What do I do next?
If my aim was to be practical I would say get a job as a teacher this fall. Use the degree I got in school, put it to good use and have a classroom. I should be picking out the theme for my classroom, deciding what classroom rules I’ll have, what the discepline plan looks like. The plans I had before the race don’t have to changed because I took a year off.
If my aim was to follow the Holy Spirit and my heart then it would be to wait. Wait for a sign of what to do next. If I’ve learned anything over the last 8 months it’s that the rest of the world doesn’t run on a clock like the US. Things happen when they are meant to happen.
When we were in Côte d’Ivoire, we left our village in the bush to go to the bigger village for supplies and WiFi. Our team needed an atm, toilet paper, snacks (always!) and WiFi to let everyone know we were still alive. We had our plan, we had communicated it with our hosts so we thought we were all on the same page. Haha! Nope! None of the atm’s were working that day so we had no money. We drove in circles just praying that we would find one working. After hours we found one, got our money, picked up our supplies and we were starving. We were expected at a friends house for lunch. Being on African time we showed up over 2 hours late, but this woman and her family were more than ready to receive us despite our truency. Lunch hapened and we were finally going to check the last item off our list, WiFi.
We found an Internet cafe by 4, we ALL got connected by 5:30. Then we found out the last bus home had left at 5. We were stuck. We had no sleeping plans, no clothes, and we or should I say I wasn’t in the best mental state.
Thankfully everything turned out fine, we were graciously given beds at a home, a delicious meal of hot chocolate, bread and chocolate spread was waiting for us. We had a shower and blankets. We couldn’t have asked for more. The frustration I had felt now was funny. I didn’t trust in the Lord, which was my theme for the race. To trust Him and by doing that learn to trust other people.
When we woke the next morning we found out the bus that had left the night before at 5; one we so desperately wanted to be on had been robbed. It had been stopped on its way home, and everyone on board was stolen from. We were so insistent on being comfortable and having plans go our way, that we were missing signs from God.
By keeping us in the larger village overnight, we were spared from theft, from the dangers for driving on the roads at night in the bush. Patients saved us from this event. I can guarantee I didn’t have patience at the time, I was overwhelmed with the plans that had once been simple but turn complicated by the mixing of cultures. I was too busy fighting fate inside of working with it.
With that being said, I want my future to just happen. I want people and opportunities to come to me, for my next journey to be presented for me so that I know it comes from God and not from me.
Some of my teammates and I have been touring a different city in India. We saved up our off days from this month to experience more of India. We decided on Mumbai, so we booked a hostel, packed our day packs and hopped on a flight. We have seen the Gateway to India, the famous Taj Mahal Palace (tried to get tea but $$$$$$), we experienced the crazy traffic, felt like celebrities getting our photos taken and met some incredible people along the way.
At our hostel we were in a bunk room with 5 other people. Many of the people were in Mumbai for a photography conference being put on by a former businessman turned photographer. 10 years ago this man left his job in cooperate America to pursue a passion he had always had. He didn’t know if it would work, how to get recognized or how to make money taking photos but he had a passion for showing Gods world. As I sat talking to 2 roommates last night they kept sharing about their passion for photography. What’s its like taking wedding photos in the color capital of the world. How they hope to make this their full time career, no longer needing to supplement their income by working at 711 during the day in order to take photos at night.
I’ve already shared about how much taking photos on the Race has meant to me. I’ve loved working to take the perfect shot, and finding the best angle to show Gods creation. Looking for items and people that inspire me or something that makes me do a double take.
I’ve been pondering the idea of turning my passion into a career. Could I make it as a photographer? How would I fund the travel that would need to happen? Would I need to work for a company or could I be an independent freelance photographer? I will need a camera of my own and I need to really learn how to use all of its functions.
There are so many things floating around in my mind, but the more I think about it the more peace I have and the more it feels right.
God is this your plan for me? Is this what you have created me to do?
