Public Service Announcement: the World Race is not a fun little trip with mostly adventures, and it is NOT a vacation, if you are looking to go on a vacation then go on a vacation, not on the World Race. It will stretch you far behind you very thought possible, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
There are specific moments I can clearly pin point that the Lord changed my heart and the direction I was going in an instant. I clearly remember one from every country. But throughout the entire time God was working in my heart. We tore down idols together, I grew in wonder and awe of His magnificence, and he taught me how deeply He loves me.
Swaziland
I have grown up in a Christian family my whole life and I “knew all the stories”, I’d say. So I did not see the point in reading my bible. But when I got to training camp I realized that I may know all the stories but I didn’t actually know God’s character. So, I told myself that by the end of this I wanted to have a firm foundation of who God is. A firm foundation based on truths I’ve read and see in His word, not based off of what others have told me. I needed to know God for myself. So I prayed for a hunger and thirst for the word in Swaziland and the Lord delivered. I was filled with a hunger and thirst that could not be quenched by anything that the words of the Bible. I was so HUNGRY for the truth I had been missing out on my entire life before this. So in Swaziland was when a I grew in intimacy with the Father. Now I know who God is and his in changing character. God desires relationship with you and me more than anything, that’s why He died, so that you could know Him! He tore the veil so we never have to be separated. If that doesn’t show his desire to know YOU, shoot me a message I give you more reasons and examples!
Nepal
Our hosts, the Gandarbas, changed how I viewed a Christ centered family and reminded me of the value in it. I’ve grown up in a Christian family my entire life, like I said, however I did not appreciate it until here. The entire family lived their lives on mission. They would do ministry together, pray and thank God before they entered the house after the day, read a chapter of the Bible as a family each day before they ate dinner together. They said, “I don’t know how many times we have read through the entire Bible as a family!” That is what a Christ centered family looks like and acts. I needed to see that, and to be a part of another family that lived their lives devoted to God to realize how essential that is. So from that places I learned the value of a Christ centered family.
India
If you remember my blog from a few months ago in India about that Jesus shaped and sized puzzle piece in my heart. That would be the huge take away I learned here which has had a rippling effect on everything else in my life! Once I understood that the only thing I as missing was accepting God’s love for me. Once I understood, well began to scratch the surface really of God’s love for ME, then I learned my value and true identity as a daughter of the one true King! And that NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, I have done or will do has the power to take that away from me. That I am forgiven and free, and made brand new. Once I learned that, THEN I understood how to love others like Jesus loves me. Until I understood how loved I was, I didn’t know how to love others.
Guatemala
This is where it all came together. I loved people here in a deeper way than I ever thought possible! I was able to do that because I finally understood how to. And it all came from knowing the Father, finally knowing who I am, and purposefully centering my actions, friendships, and desires around God’s heart.
This is where God placed a passion for his daughters on my heart, the women of this world, but specifically women in America. My heart bursts with excitement and joy at the thought of starting this dream that God has given me. I want to open a safe house for women. A place of refuge, and safety for at risk women of any age. For women that need to leave abusive relationships or households, or find themselves homeless for any reason. I want my home to be a safe place to land. And I want to now go into social work so that I can provide them with resources, and be their advocate.
Now obviously there are a lot of things to worked out with this like I am only 19 at the moment but I know this dream is from the Lord and I know there is no question He will provide.
My prayer for this home is that:
That the door would always be open
The light always on
Truth would be spoken over lives
Everyone would leave knowing their value and identity
That they are worthy, forgiven, free, and daughters
But above all, they are loved deeply by God
Together, we will move the mountains surrounding people’s hearts
Overall
God used this year I set aside for him to work in my life and did a complete 180 on my life. Thank God I dedicated this year to the Lord, and this is only the stepping stone for what is next. This fall I will be attending Grove City College in PA and majoring in Social Work. I am beyond psyched to start bible studies with my roommate and the girls on my floor. I have learned I have a testimony, a voice and a story that needs to be shared! GOD, I cannot wait to together bring revival to the United States.
