Hi there friends and family!
I have a shocking A N N O U N C E M E N T to make.
Some of you may already know, but I wanted to remove my old World Race blog off the dusty shelf and post an update for those of you who were such HUGE support systems for me during that incredible journey to 11 countries sharing the love of Christ. I definitely felt the Lord putting it on my heart to reach out to you all again through this blog, but I hesitated for the longest time because it’s been so long since I’ve written to any of you, and I didn’t want this to be misunderstood. I’ve done a horrible job of staying in touch with some of you for the last few years (especially those of you from North Carolina who have lived so far from me) – I’m so sorry, and I want to do a better job!
With that said, I’m excited to announce that in February 2018 I will be leaving for a 5 month journey to the Himalayas – India, Nepal, and China – with a team of 2 other World Race alumni!
This missions trip is a Kingdom Journeys trip through Adventures in Missions (the same organization that sends the World Race). I have been given a new blog to update friends and family through. That blog can be found here if you’d like to subscribe and follow my journey! This will be my last update on this blog.
What will our team be doing?
“[Our team] will be eyes and ears into a region that [Adventures in Missions] has barely scratched the surface of understanding. We will provide both factual information on the region, as well as spiritual context for what the Lord is doing there.
While a minor focus of this trip will be to find ministry partners for future teams, the primary goal will be to join the Lord in what He’s doing in this region, and to share the Gospel with Himalayan Communities […].”
Friends, undeniably I announce this news with a combination of excitement-terror-expectancy-and a weird list of other emotions as well. I’ve spent MANY hours praying over this trip, and praying for wisdom and discernment in my decision making.
Why this trip?
The thing I continuously come back to is how strangely identical this trip is to a dream the Lord placed on my heart nearly 3 years ago. Ever since returning from the World Race, I have repetitively told people, “One day, I will backpack the Himalayas and take the gospel to unreached people groups.” Granted, I thought “one day” meant many many years down the road.
This decision to leave has been both exhilarating and surprisingly hard. And it has taken me many days to fully grieve the closure of this nearly 3 year season in Mansfield – a season that held an unexplainable amount of growth, adventure, challenges, tears, depth and equipping. But above all, it’s been a season bursting with beauty.
For the first time in my life, Mansfield has felt more like home than anywhere I’ve ever lived. I finally established life here. I’ve established deep-rich-wonderful community here. I’ve worked for a company that has been such a blessing in my life (literally, to fully explain the ways this company has blessed me would require a book of itself). I’ve experienced hands on education in areas I’ve always wanted to grow in.
For lack of words – Mansfield, you’ve been good to me. SO INCREDIBLY GOOD.
So why leave? Why now? Good question, if that’s what you’re asking. In the deepest depths of my heart, I knew my time with Adventures was not over. I’ve known that for years, but the timing wasn’t right. I denied the desires and laid them aside because I knew I needed to be in Mansfield. I said no to countless opportunities for one reason or the other. Bottom line: I needed to be in Mansfield, and the Lord continuously affirmed that decision.
But the moment I came across this trip, my deep burning passion to take the Gospel to the nations was reawakened and consumed my every thought. I couldn’t shake one simple reality – “Jasmine, you will one day regret this decision if you don’t go. What do you have to lose?”
I knew the Lord was asking me to take a BOLD RISK in FAITH.
When praying for 2018 and reflecting on what the Lord wanted to do in me, the word that was continuously laid on my heart was RISK.
So at the close of the first week of 2018, I announced one of the biggest risks I’ve probably ever taken up to this point in my life. (Hence the extreme mix of complex emotions haha, which is simply my affirmation that I need to do it.)
I know I was never meant to live a life of safety and security. Those two words have never interested me long term. And I don’t want to live my life in my comfort zone. Yes, it has a certain deceitful appeal to it – a trap that’s easy to fall into. But, I know we truly encounter the EXTRAVAGANCE of the Lord when we are out of our comfort zone – when we are so weak that we have ONLY the Lord to depend on. In those moments He shows up in our lives HUGE, and gives us exactly what we need IN THAT MOMENT. In our discomfort and weakness, we encounter His reckless love in ways we didn’t even know were possible. And He uses that extreme discomfort to minister to others in the process (if we let Him use us). WILD.
I’ve been equipped in so many ways while living in Mansfield (soaking up so much from all the incredible people the Lord has allowed to cross my path), and I literally CANNOT wait to take what I’ve learned and put it into action – serving the Lord and His people in this remarkably stunning region of the world.
This journey is less than ONE MONTH away with A LOT of work to do. Will you please prayerfully consider partnering with me in one or all of the following ways?
1. PRAYER WARRIOR – I have seen first hand the power of prayer. This is crucial and most important. I’d love for you to join my team of mighty-fearless-prayer warriors.
2. GIVE ME A JOB TO DO – I will clean your house, make you a wood burn, take your family photos (or any other photos you’d like) for whatever amount you would like to pay me.
3. DONATIONS – If you want to simply donate a certain amount, you can do so on my new blog found here. There are several places that say “Donate.” Click on the button and it will lead you through the steps.
Thank you in advance for all the help and support! I truly appreciate it.
With love,
Jasmine
