Since moving to Los Angeles from Seattle, the past 6 months have been amazing. I have met incredible people, found an amazing church (Reality LA), have worked on some cool photoshoots, reality shows, up coming short films, fashion events, worked at one of the best/competitive salons out here, and taught intense "boot camps" on the beach. Let's just say there has not been a dull moment. Through all the up's I've lived life to the fullest, and through all the downs I have been able to take something and learn a thing or two.
Something that I have been praying and focusing on for the past year has really been "God, I am ready to be used, I am willing for you to take me out of my comfort zone and take my life." We tend to make that be our prayer but not sure if we really want to give our life fully over to God since we have our own plans/thoughts of how our life is going to turn out. Well, I guess just be careful what you pray for because it definitely works. =)
Even though I have been loving my life here in California I still felt like something was missing. I have always been so passionate about people, cultures, sharing the gospel and traveling. Within the past 2 months it has been stirring even more and more in my heart. I had no idea what I was supposed to do about it. People in other cultures always wonder why Americans grow up so fast. We race to get out of highscool worrying about where we are to work, where we are going to college, etc. It had me really thinking about why I am racing to do so much and get "to the top" so fast.
I spent a lot of time praying, reading, thinking, talking to my dad about all these feelings. I didn't know if I just wanted to backpack around the world, to a short mission trip, or work in other countries but I prayed that God would make it clear and show me what I should do and that I would be completely willing to do whatever He has called me to do.
As I was telling one of my best friends about my feelings/prayers/thoughts she told me to look up the World Race. I had no idea what to expect, but after looking through the site and reading blogs for a long while it was pretty much a "no brainer" that this is what I had to do. It included all of my passions in one. Living in other cultures for periods of a month at a time, traveling around the entire world, and sharing about Jesus...OH…AND it's out of my comfort zone. That means I need to leave the nice, sunny beaches and my beach cruiser, that I ride everyday and I need to live in a backpack and sleep in tents for a whole year. Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan….Seems rough.
But hey, I asked God to make me willing to do whatever His plan is for me.
Prov 16:9 "We can make our own plans, but the Lord determines our steps."
I had an idea of the ideal life ahead but I know that I can plan that but when I fully surrender to the Lord He has an even bigger, better plan for my life that I cannot even fathom what is to come. It makes me exstatic to think that when I am completely willing to be used then more than amazing things are going to be done in my life and in the lives of others with Him working through me.
I am getting the chills thinking about it all right now!!!
All in all, if after the world race I plan my life, I would come straight back to Los Angeles and do everything I am doing here. But I am ready to do whatever He has planned. I honestly don't know where I will be next year. All I know is I will be a completely different person and basically, for the first time I have NO SET PLANS for my own life.
