One year ago today I thought life was an endless cycle of disappointments and failures. I thought that the pain I felt on a daily basis was the norm. Everything I had worked for my whole life was crumbling all around me. My relationships had all failed, my faith was weak and my finances were in shambles. Looking back at that time in my life, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. It led me to where I am today, looking out into the Himalayas.
One year ago I applied for this crazy trip called The World Race. After going through a grueling application and interview process, I was completely convinced there was no way the organization was going to let me go. I knew I was going to get denied, rejected and left behind… again. Looking back, this part of the process forced me to “wait”, something I am not very fond of or good at. The application in a sense was my first “lesson”. I had to be patient on the Lords will in my life. At the time I didn’t know this was the lesson I was learning, but looking back it’s so clear. It was my first experience waiting on the Lord to move, instead of forcing my own way. And let me be perfectly clear, that wasn’t easy for me.
A month later I got a phone call from the AIM office, I answered and immediately started to cry because I knew I was going to have to muster up the courage to be rejected once again. Much to my surprise the amazing lady from admissions told me that I had a spot on K Squad if I wanted it….. I was in complete shock, I think I yelled “YES” before she finished speaking. Then I composed myself and answered an appropriate “Christian” response of “I’ll pray about it……. BUT YES!!”
Since that moment, my life has been flipped upside down, then back to right side up. I am sitting on a rooftop in Nepal looking out into the majesty of His work, the Himalayan Mountain Range. Since that moment, I have seen God at work in every area of my life. He is constantly pursuing me, loving me and guiding me. He never fails me. Ever. Up until The Race I never fully understood my worth as a daughter of Christ. I never understood how loved I truly am. My identity has been restored, I have been set free. God has allowed me to serve people groups I never knew existed. He has allowed me to serve next to some of the greatest people in the world. I have been entrusted to spread the gospel in varies ways such as working at a special ed school in Guatemala, dump ministry in Nicaragua, sex trafficking rescue in the Philippines, christmas carols in Thailand, Unsung Heroes in Cambodia and mountain trekking in Nepal to spread the word of Jesus in far away villages and caves.
Quite the turn around. All because I let Him love me.
None of this however, would have been possible without my supporters. Thank you all for helping me get here. I couldn’t have done this thing without each and every one of you.
I am so close to being fully funded. I am still in need of $2,943, then I will be set for the rest of the race. The final deadline is March 1st, donations to be made before Feb. 25th. I truly appreciate any and all amounts and am so thankful for the donations that have gotten me this far.
This is the last time I will be able to post or blog before the deadline, since my Nepal contact is taking my team and I into the mountains for a 15 day trek! (Stay tuned early March for details and pictures!!!!) I trust that God will move in this area of my life too, and I will meet my fundraising goal. Please partner with me in this, I need you. We see the finish line here people, one last sprint….. God help us…
With all of my love and hope,
Hannah
