Since coming home three weeks ago, everyone has been asking me: "What's next?"
Here's the long answer. Please keep reading if you're genuinely interested to know.
On August 2nd of this year, I stepped onto the grounds of Iris Ministries in Pemba Mozambique, thinking it was going to be a short 5 day visit, but little did I know I was about to experience a close love encounter with God that would leave me breathless and require a new level of commitment on my part, one that would take me out of my comfort zone, yet again.
I can't wait to see these glorious clouds at the Village of Joy.
Those 5 days spent at the Village of Joy shook me at the core, I felt the continuous wave of God's love through the gentle ways of the children coming up to me, through the way a baby snuggled up against my chest, through the way God consoled me as I brought my heartaches to Him in the prayer huts, through the hand of a brother helping me as waves crushed me against the rocky shores of the Indian Ocean, through a random and divine run-in with a friend I know from back in California, through the miracles and healing I got to experience firsthand, for the very first time.
Through each instance, I sensed His nudge. He was telling me something that sounded like this:
“I want you to come to Harvest School.”
I didn't want to.
The thought of it freaked me out.
I was ready with my list of but’s and wait's.
But I am in my 30’s.
But I just finished an 11-months mission trip.
But I can’t stand rice, beans, and matapa.
But I don’t even have a heart for Mozambique.
But I need to find someone, get married, settle down and have kids.
But I don't have the finances for another mission trip.
Maybe I should wait until I can afford it.
I was afraid, I didn’t want to give up control of my life.
I didn't want to hand everything over to Him.
The unforgettable faces of children at the Village of Joy.
But He confirmed anyway through the words of several people, through circumstances, and through speaking to me directly.
He tells me:
I just want your heart.
You are the right age, the age you are as I am calling to you now.
You are going after the one thing that matters.
You are seeking my presence and you will find it.
You are seeking my heart of love, you are seeking what I define as justice.
I will let those things you seek happen in the right order, the right time.
I will provide for you.
So, I am excited to share with you that I will be leaving home again at the end of this month (September) to attend Harvest Missions School in Mozambique. The school is a little under 3 months long, and after graduation, I will travel with a team to Cambodia (one of my favorite countries on the race) to help serve alongside their long-term missionaries and minister to street kids, aid in the rescue of boys who are being trafficked for sex and go to the red light districts and spend time with the working women there. I will return home to the Bay Area just in time for Christmas.
A Harvest School student and his Mozambican friend.
Harvest School is describe as the followings on their website: "There is a new breed of missionaries being released across the earth, transparent saints, with oversized hearts, beating in rhythm with the heart of their Bridegroom King Jesus, carrying His glory across the earth. Fearless, laid-down lovers that know a love that has no boundaries, and are ready to run into the darkest places of the earth and bring in the lost, the dying, the poor and the broken. Jesus came with ceaseless love for both the one and the masses. Now we must do the same: stop for the one, but believe for the multitudes."
Carolyn, a new graduate enters the fire tunnel of prayer on Harvest School's graduation day.
Will you partner with me as I am being taught by Heidi and Rolland Baker to be a part of this new breed of missionaries?
I need to raise a total of $8000 for to attend Iris Ministries Harvest School, flight and logistics expenses to both countries, and the Cambodia outreach. Please prayerfully consider supporting me by regular prayer intercession and financial giving.
Remember, I can’t go and do and love with His love, unless you send me out.
There are three ways to respond (Come on, don't be shy):
1. Say "Hi", "I'll be praying for you", "Your nuts!" by leaving me a comment.
2. Click on the below picture.
What does His love look like?
"He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?"
–Micah 6:8
