God is my networker

A few years ago a friend shared with me the quote, “Life is not meant to be understood forwards, but rather backwards.” My World Race story progresively becomes more interesting each month. If I drew a map of connnections from my life to the World Race, then an intricate web would be formed.

In March, I journaled “Lord, I need direction from you whether or not to go on the World Race. Please make this crystal clear.” Well . . . throughout the past few months, I have seen this prayer answered by the ten-fold. I do not believe in coincedences, but rather I believe in Divine appointments.

This is a testimony of God’s incredible timing. This is a story of his unmerited grace. My Abba Father has led me into this journey for such a time as this. I do not know what I will learn in the coming months, but I do know that my God will always be with me (Joshua 1:9). Allow me to show you how God has answered my prayer for direction.

Psalm 139: 13-16 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

Note: (month on my route)

1984– My parents traveled to South Africa and Swaziland (months 8 & 9) on a medical mission trip.

1985– My parents and their friends, Clay and Angeli, move from Tulsa, OK to Orlando, FL.

1988– birth. My Grandma Jackie prayed that I would learn Spanish. I did.

1989– 1st international trip to Guatemala (month 1). My parents brought me with them on a medical mission trip to help and visit our friends, Dr. Clay and Angeli Powell with their medical clinic ministry with Missionary Ventures http://www.missionaryventures.org/.

1990’s– Went to Wekiva Christian School for elementry school. Met Jesse Walsh (Jan ’10 World Racer)

2000– I traveled with my dad on a medical mission trip to Arequipa, Peru. I distinctly remember standing upon the rooftop of a hotel, gazing upon the Andes mountains, and knowing I was called to be involved in missions.

2000-2002– Went to Altamonte Christian school with Jesse Walsh (Jan ’10 World Racer)

2003– Moved to Kennesaw, GA. Met Jennifer Mitchell (August ’09 World Racer)

2004– Traveled to Piedras Negras, Mexico on a mission trip with Jennifer Mitchell (August ’09 World Racer)

2004-2006– Took Spanish courses at Harrison High School with Elsa Brown (a dear friend, mentor, and sister in Christ to this day)

2006

• Graduated from Harrison High School and moved to Birmingham, AL.
  
• Started fall semester at Samford University.
  
• Visited Church of Brook Hills on a missions-focused Sunday.

2007– Traveled to Maracaibo, Venezuela on a mission trip. Met Andi Wendel (Jan ’08 World Racer and WR field support)

Jan 2008– Studied abroad in Costa Rica (month 3). Friendship formed with Jill (another Samford Alum) from Nicaragua (month 2).

July 2009– Spent 3 weeks in Pretoria, South Africa on a medical mission trip and AIDS hospice trip with the Church of Brook Hills. I served alongside missionaries Steve and Teresa Kinsley (their daughter was one of the first World Racers).

Feb 2010

• Discovered that friends Matt Patton from Samford and Jennifer Mitchell from GA were on K squad together (August ’09 World Racers).
  
• Called World Race and talked to Rusty Jackson. He and his squad (Jan’08 squad) stayed at the same home as I did (in 2009) in Pretoria, South Africa.

March 2010– Applied for the World Race. Steve Kinsley gave me Allison Johnston’s and Jimmy McArthy’s contact info for questions about the race.

April 2010– Accepted to the World Race. I saw Janell King (September ’10 World Racer) on campus and told her within 30 minutes of my acceptance phone call. She later applied and was accepted.

May 2010

• Graduated from Samford with B.S. in Biology/ Spanish minor. Moved back to GA.
  
• Became a part of Riverstone Church (missionaries in India and Mozambique– months 10 and 11) (Pastor Tom Tanner pastored David Platt, Andy Byers, and Joel Brooks while they were at UGA. All four have pastored me during my college years. What a beautiful picture of discipleship!)

July 2010

• I met the mom of missionaries in Cambodia (month 7) at friends Jamie and Tommy’s wedding.
  
• World Race Training camp. Allison Johnston, Jimmy McArthy, Andie led sessions at training. Reunited with Erin Albee (18 inch journey participant and Harrison alum)
  
• Began Threads of Hope fundraiser (threads from Philippines– month 4)

August 2010

• Lindsay and Brian’s wedding (Malaysia connection- month 5). Erin Albee is a bridesmaid! World race training camp reunion 🙂
  
• Visited college roommate Alexandra in NYC. While visiting the MET, I met the wife of an American ambassador (to one of the countries on my WR route).
  
• Met Aaron Bruner (Harrison alum, World Racer, J squad leader, and World Race logistic staff)

• Guatemala Month 1 on the Race.
  
• Week 1: Our ministry contact calls friend, Fidelis in Tulsa, OK. Fidelis’ doctor is Dr. Clay Powell my dad’s long-time friend from ORU.
  
• Week 2 &3: Fidelis comes to speak to 2 World Race teams.

My World Race route (the connections): Guatemala (Powells and my parents), Nicaragua (Jill), Costa Rica (study abroad), the Philippines (WR fundraiser), Malaysia (Lindsay and Brian), Thailand (Anna), Cambodia (Jamie and Tommy), South Africa (Kinsleys), Swaziland (my parents), Mozambique (Riverstone), and India (Riverstone and Brooks Hills)

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My Lord is weaving a beautiful tapestry before me; and I know that it will continue . . .