I don’t know about any of you, but for the longest time, I hated being asked the question, “What are you passionate about?”
Well, crap, I don’t know. I’m really into watching dance videos on YouTube, I get those warm fuzzies when I have a hot hazelnut latte in my hands, I’m a big fan of sarcastic remarks, and I think dessert is God’s gift to His children. I would want to say this to people, knowing fully well that that wasn’t their intent. They wanted to know what put butterflies in my stomach. What got me so fired up that I couldn’t wait to do something. My passion.
I remember during Month 3 in Vietnam writing in my journal about this very question, and it really upset me that I didn’t have an answer. It seemed like everyone around me could verbalize their passions, and then there I was, kind of just floating along. I begged God to reveal the passions He had placed on my heart- I knew they were there, I just wasn’t sure how to pinpoint them.
Fast forward to Month 8 when I was sitting on my bed in Macedonia. We had some free time and I was watching a TED Talk about injustice, poverty, and the lack of opportunity for certain people groups. As I watched, I became more and more pissed off. I had seen too many documentaries, read too many articles and books about this same issue. That’s when it hit me- God gave me a little love smack upside the head and said, “THIS is your passion! See all of my children being held captive? See my daughters not being given any rights? See my beloved feeling as if she doesn’t have any worth?? THIS is the passion I’ve placed on your heart!” I started thinking back on all of the videos, articles, books, conversations about these issues, and as God connected the dots as He always does, it all made sense. I could actually verbalize what made my heart beat faster, what I learned about that made me want to do something, what really agitated me!
The next thing I knew, our squad had team changes again and I was put on a team with Miss Becky Houston, a woman on the squad who came into the Race knowing fully well what she was passionate about. Becky is extremely passionate about fighting human trafficking- bringing justice and restoration to people whose freedom has been unjustly taken away. Every conversation we had about social justice issues around the world, about different organizations fighting trafficking, and about her dreams to join this battle, her eyes would light up and I could just feel that fire deep within her to bring justice. At the beginning of the Race, I was a bit envious of how sure she was in her passions. By the time we were on the same team, I was excited to have many conversations about our similar interests. Well played, God.
During our time together, Becky and I had more conversations than I could possibly count about the things that set our souls on fire. She explained different organizations and issues she had researched and encouraged me to dive deeper into my newly discovered passions. She shared with me her dreams of opening up a coffee shop and partnering with a safe house. Our conversations were just that- conversations- until Month 10 in Nicaragua.
That month, God showed up- big time. We had a ministry contact who had done the World Race, fell in love with the organization she worked with, then moved back there permanently after her 11 month journey finished. She was a great example of God’s crazy provision, being able to have big dreams, and knowing fully well that God would make those dreams reality. Not only were we working alongside this woman, God spoke to each of us individually more clearly and with more gumption than ever before. Throughout this month, my incredible Papa taught me what it looks like to dream BIG. To sit with Him, and allow Him to create these outlandish ideas that wouldn’t ever work out without His help. He taught me that these dreams can be scary, terrifying, even. Yet when I look back on all of the times He has provided and cared for me, keeping me safe and healthy when the world would expect a different outcome, I am completely at peace. God wants us to dream these crazy big dreams because when they come true, when the outlandish plans to free His children work out, they completely glorify Him!
Becky and I talked about our dreams, prayed together regularly, and eventually our individual longings combined into the same big dream. She had been put in contact with a couple in Scotland who are opening a safe house. Remember, this is half of the dream God placed on her heart of the coffee shop/ safe house combo. In one Holy Spirit-induced, heart-pounding conversation, Becky looked me straight in the eye and asked, “Well, are you coming with me?”
The thought of going with her to Scotland for an indefinite amount of time is both exhilarating and terrifying. I’m still not sure if God wants me to partner with Becky for the long haul, or if I am to support her in getting started and then move on. I am confident, however, that there is a purpose in the magnitude of these dreams- Holy Spirit didn’t speak to us so clearly about the same dream for no reason at all. And I know that my Papa would walk with me the entire time, wiping away every ounce of fear in my body. Knowing that this is a plan to free His daughters, equip them with life and occupational skills, and teach them about the Creator of the Universe who is madly in love with them.. that’s more exciting than any doubt could compete with.
As Becky and I continued to talk, dream, and pray about Scotland, there was one moment in our Nicaraguan kitchen that will stay in my heart forever. Staring out of the window, overlooking the schoolyard next to our home, Holy Spirit spoke to each of us at the same time. As I was thinking the words, Becky said, “I think we should just go. Go to Scotland. We should pray over the land, see what God’s already doing there. We can do a vision-casting trip.” Cue Holy Spirit chills, jumping up and down, and happy tears- God had spoken, we just need to follow!
Our prayer from that point on has been for God to provide plane tickets for us to do this vision-casting trip to Scotland. We fully trust that if this is something He wants and needs us to do, then He will create a way to make this happen. That could mean working and slowly saving up our pennies, telling everyone we know about this dream and praying that small donations will add up to the price of two plane tickets, or somehow God moving someone to pay for the entire thing. We know and trust that He is so much bigger than money, and so much bigger than the restrictions of plane ticket costs, and He will provide!
So, my request: Please join Becky and me in prayer about this dream God has placed on our hearts! Please pray for clarity in discerning where He wants us to go, and when. Pray for courage to make the jump when He gives us the loving nudge. And finally, pray in thanksgiving for the ability to dream BIG, for His endless provision, for His faithfulness, and for those plane tickets to land in our hands!
