This year, God has been speaking to me in many ways. Amidst the Coronavirus, He taught me the importance of slowing down and taking time for myself. During the protests for Black Lives Matter, He taught me the value of educating myself on issues I barely understood. And, in the most daunting way, He is teaching me how to trust Him and His plans for my future.
This December, I will be graduating from high school. That means this fall, I will be applying for college, writing essays for scholarships, and ultimately stepping into a new chapter in my life.
This is terrifying! Some mornings, I felt myself asking God, “Where are you taking me? What are your plans for me? In what ways will my faith impact my future?” Since the beginning of 2020, these have been the bulk of my prayers. I have clung to Jeremiah 29:11, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘Plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.’”
In all my questions, I felt God telling me, Just you wait. You’ll see.
Then, I got accepted into a three month mission trip with Adventures in Missions for Spring, 2021. Primarily based in South Africa, Swaziland, and Lesotho, we will spend each month coming alongside local ministry partners to serve in the community we live in. Most of our time will be focused on building relationships with children and churches in rural communities. We will also be trained by local leaders to go out and do community projects and evangelism by teaching children about the love of Jesus. The most impactful part of this trip for me will be engaging in community development and education with under-resourced communities, something that deeply inspires me.
The work Adventures in Missions is doing across the world is incredibly impactful. Established in 1989, they have taken over 115,000 people into the mission field, sometimes for just a week, and sometimes for an entire year. Their mission is to bring the gospel of Jesus to those who don’t know Him by building lasting relationships across the world. For young adults, this is such an important time to learn about themselves, the world, and God. Before college, students are preparing to step into adulthood, asking the Lord for guidance, and discovering God’s greater purpose for them. I am so thankful to be a part of this mission.
Never before have I felt God speaking to me so clearly. Not only will I be able to do something I truly love (working with children, developing education programs, and meeting other believers), but I also believe God has a lesson waiting for me. He is calling me to grow in my own faith before I take the leap into college. Though I don’t know the ways he’ll speak to me, I know this is the step He wants me to take.
