Sooo I’ve sort of been putting off writing this first blog post, but I wanted to let everyone know what my plans are for the upcoming year and a little bit about how I got here.
This September, I am going on a mission trip around the world to 11 countries in 11 months. The countries I will be visiting are Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Mozambique, Swaziland, South Africa, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, India and Nepal.
I will be going to strange places, with new people, living minimally, and trusting God as I continually face unanticipated situations.
How did I make this decision you might ask?
Well- I graduated college about a year ago and moved back home shortly after. Honestly, I had little direction of what to do after school, and didn’t give much thought to it while I was actually in school because I didn’t really want to deal with it and always just assumed that I’d “figure it out” later. Well, later happened and it looked a lot like me just hanging around my house feeling pretty lost and aimless. On top of that, I am extremely indecisive and it is hard for me to make a decision and truly commit to it. My life felt very transient. I had been working temporary jobs, sleeping on my couch, and not really feeling settled or grounded at all. Because I studied Global Studies in school, a bunch of people have asked me whether I wanted to work in or go to another country. And while, yes, I would absolutely love to do this, it completely scares me. I have spent this past year researching a ton of different options such as: teaching english abroad, missions work, moving somewhere else in California, to joining the PeaceCorps, and even going to nursing school. While each of these options seemed promising at the moment, when it came down to it, none felt right.
While I craved the adventure and risk of doing something completely out of my comfort zone, I struggled with the competing desire to do something comfortable, safe, and something I could manage on my own.
Through all of this searching, I came to a point where I told God that I didn’t want to settle for living comfortably in my own little world, I wanted to surrender my control to Him and live fully for Him and for His Kingdom. After telling Him this, He put the World Race on my heart, a trip that I had heard about a few times over the past year. Every time I tried to tell Him that it would be too hard for me, that I’m not prepared, and that I wouldn’t be able to raise enough money, He would supply the faith and hope I needed. I asked for confirmation and I feel like He immediately provided that through a few circumstances. It seemed crazy, but I felt peace about this.
So, in faith, I applied and am now confirmed to leave in September. This is a trip that I am not going to be able to do without God. Going to foreign countries to do ministry, living out of a backpack, and working in close community all scare me. As I have been told many times, God does not call the equiped but equips the called and I believe that even though I feel that I may be weak in many areas, He will supply all that I need and will work through me as I yield to Him.
To Him who is worthy of all of our lives!
