I have always been averse to the status quo. In fact, I sometimes relate better to salmon than to people, for I, too, was created to swim upstream.
As a little girl I was so silly and different, my mom would often ask, “Where did I get you?” to which I would reply, “K-mart Blue Light Special… Duh!” (if that gives you any insight). As an adult, I see the road I am supposed to take marked clearly before me; it is a well-beaten path. Many have walked it before me, and many will walk it with me. I am sure it is a safe road to take. But I hear a Voice inviting me to a different path, one that is less traveled, and I am drawn to His Voice.
Source: Richard P Gibbs Blog
For the past three and a half years, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity and blessing to work successfully in the pharmaceutical industry. I like many aspects of what I do, perhaps the most of which is that my work can directly help people. Even with all the positive, though, I often feel like the fibers of my being are going to explode for lack of movement, creativity, challenge, and excitement! This burning desire suggests that I (speaking only for myself – I do not generalize for others) was meant to do more than sit behind a computer screen for most of my day.
So what next? How do I even discern where to tread when the path has not yet been cleared? What is this less traveled road? For my life, I feel called to serve in international missions, and my first step of faith and obedience is venturing outside of the affluent lifestyle to which I am accustomed.
This decision did not come over night, but is the result of what the Lord has put on my heart for years – a love for different cultures and an irresistible desire to make His redeeming love known to others. Like most people, though, He has not given me a detailed outline of my 5, 10, or 20-year plans. So I am stepping out in faith. This is not a blind “leap” of faith, but rather a trusting step of obedience to enter the mission field. God willing, I’ll leave in January on the World Race where I’ll be building infrastructure, working with impoverished youth, helping fight human trafficking, sharing the Gospel, and more (click here for more detail on the countries on my route).
I have not even left our borders yet and I am outside of my comfort zone. The first milestone I am required to meet in order to go on this trip is to raise $3,500 by Saturday, September 27th. I can’t get there on my own… I am simply trusting that my community sees this opportunity in the same way that I do – that this organization and this trip are so much bigger than just me. It is an effort for my generation to rise up and be leaders in this world; global citizens who long to see a broken world redeemed. If you’d like to consider partnering with me financially in this endeavor, you can click on the “Support me” link at the top of this page, or email me questions by using the “Contact” button (underneath photo on left side of this page). Because Adventures in Missions (AIM) is a charitable organization, all donations to my account are also tax deductible.
Most importantly, please pray for and with me!!! I will need a genuine community of support and prayer while I am in the field. I’ll face constant physical, mental, and spiritual challenges (more on this in future posts). I don’t know what my life will look like 5 years from now, but I hope and pray that it will be radically different! Please pray with me that God will give me the strength to continue swimming upstream to reach people in places where no one else wants to go.
Woe is me if I ignore this call on my heart. Woe is me if I do not heed Christ’s command to “make disciples of every nation,” (Matthew 28:19). Woe is me if I settle for the status quo!
Signed with love,
Brynne
