January 20,
2011
“Because there I have
another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason
why you were brought to Narnia, that knowing me here for a little, you may know
me better there.” -Aslan
This, in one quote, succinctly sums up my experience on the
World Race and coming home. Yes, a movie quote from the “Chronicles of Narnia:
Voyage of the Dawn Treader” describes why God sent me on the World Race and why
I am now home, seemingly back where I started, but completely changed.
After graduating from USC, I knew I wanted to do something
meaningful with my post-grad year. Little did I know that in my attempt to give
back to God, He would radically change everything. During my 11 months
overseas, I witnessed miracles, big and small, every day. I saw people accept
the life-changing grace of their loving Father, I saw my teammates grow into
the people God is shaping them to be, I saw orphans loved, widows smiling, and
hurting people finding hope.
But more than that, I began to see myself through God’s
eyes. Not all the time, mind you, but occasionally I would get glimpses-hey, you’re beautiful. Hey, I’m proud of
you. I accept and love you unconditionally, so maybe you should do the same
with yourself.
And I saw God with new eyes. I encountered the creator of
the universe in a hospital in Tanzania, in a child’s hug in the Philippines, in
the novel hope of a new believer in Thailand, and in a family in Ukraine who
refused to give up believing God would use their son, wheelchair-bound or not.
I saw lives changed, and I saw my life changed. God brought
me out of America (my metaphorical Egypt), let me wander around the world (the
desert), and brought me back to America, now as my Promised Land-the land God has
given me to bring his hope, love and grace. I am fired up to introduce people
to this amazing God I encountered this last year. A God who loves me enough to
take me to Narnia, reveal to me just how good and amazing He is, and then
brings me back to America where I can discover that He is the same God here as
well as everywhere else in the world.
That truth alone is one I learned over and over again and am
reminded of even now. The God who is feeding hundreds of orphans in Africa
through His children who love him, the God who is breaking down walls and
destroying darkness with light in the human trafficking trade throughout the
world, is the same God who longs to know each of us dearly, and is found
anywhere you go.
So thank you. Thank you so much for supporting my trip with
your prayers and gifts. God used this year to change me and shape me more and
more into the woman I was made to be. Thank you for believing in me and in
something so much bigger than me. I really can’t say thank you enough. Thank
you for supporting my friends and teammates as well. Thank you for fighting for
us in prayer. Thank you for being you.
I hope you were encouraged in all God did this year, and
that you see how He has worked in your life as well.
Many thanks and many blessings.
