Amidst fútbol games, boiled plantains, and the best refried beans in the world, the Lord began to plant a dream in my heart. Last summer I spent five weeks serving at a ranch in Petén, Guatemala. It was during that trip that the Lord began to stir a vision in my heart for what it might look like to travel to different Latin American countries and support and encourage long term missionaries who were already on the field. I spent time dreaming with one of my best friends about what such an opportunity might look like. Where would we go? How could we make contacts? How could we communicate this vision the Lord had put on our hearts to encourage and love well through being present with people and hearing their stories?
This was what was stirring in my heart before I heard about the World Race all Spanish Route.
I began to make contacts and phone calls, to send emails and have meetings, and to draw out ideas on napkins at coffee shops in an attempt to articulate the vision the Lord had put on my heart. But something just wasn’t working, I kept running into dead end after dead end. In the midst of frustration, confusion, and discouragement, I got a text from my friend Kayla who was waiting in the airport to leave for her honeymoon… (This tells you how important she knew this news would be to me… 😉 The text said… “I THINK THE WORLD RACE HAS AN ALL SPANISH ROUTE…GO!” I immediately went online and started the process of learning more about the World Race and the Adventures in Missions organization.
If you know me at all, you know I absolutely agonize over big decisions. Through prayer, talking to people, more prayer, more talking to people, and a lot of listening, I began the process of seeking out what the Lord had for me after college. Since I was fourteen, I have known that the Lord called me to live life alongside Spanish speaking people, but a trip to do mission work in 11 Spanish speaking countries for 11 months!? It seemed too good to be true, while at the same time it seemed big, scary, and out of my comfort zone.
I stopped on my bridge one morning in April. It was a rule I made for myself before the start of my senior year at JBU. Every time I crossed that bridge, no matter what was going on in my heart or mind, no matter the chaos of the surrounding circumstances, no matter how late I was for my next commitment, I had to stop. It was my pause button. Sometimes I would stand there for a few minutes just looking up at the sky, letting the sunshine warm my soul, thanking Jesus for the little things in life. Other days I would yell at what turned from a gurgling stream to rushing rapids, wondering why life can be so messed up sometimes. Occasionally I would sit down right in the middle of the bridge and just listen. That April morning was a stop and listen kind of morning. I love that gurgley hum that bubbles up around the big rocks in the stream. I had my ipod in and Hillsong’s Oceans came on. Many of you are probably familiar with the bridge which says,
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
I’ve heard this song many times, sung it in church, appreciated the water imagery…but in that moment, I experienced something very different. Standing there on the stopping bridge, staring into the glittery stream, I felt a deep conviction that the World Race was the next piece of water for me to step out on. I just knew, this is what the Lord has for me. It’s scary, but it’s good. And I can’t imagine beginning to walk in any other direction in this season. Thank you Jesus for dreams, vision, guidance and for this incredible opportunity to be part of what You are already doing in 11 different Spanish speaking countries around the world.
My friend Kris shared this nugget with me last week in the midst of a visionary big life decision kind of conversation. I hope it’s encouraging to you no matter what season you’re in. The Lord gives us vision for a reason, and as uncomfortable as it may be at times, He asks us to step out upon the water.
“Vision is a clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be. Vision always stands in contrast to the world as it is. Vision demands change. It implies movement. For a vision to become a reality, someone must put his or her neck on the line. Vision requires visionaries, people who have allowed their minds and hearts to wander outside the artificial boundaries imposed by the world as it is. A vision requires an individual who has the courage to act on an idea.” – Andy Stanley, Visioneering
For me, the World Race started as a vision, and the Lord is providing a way for that to become a reality. I am so humbled and so grateful.
