If you know me at all, you probably have some indication that I am a planner. In fact, when I was going into my freshman year of college I had the next 10 years of my life planned out (you may think I'm exaggerating, but I am not at all). Well Jesus, had different plans for my life and I am so grateful for that because I love where He is leading me to.
So this ten year plan I had mentioned included going straight to grad school and then 4 years of the Peace Corps. Going into the Peace Corps was an absolute certainty, because I had planned on going since 5th grade. This was a dream I had held onto for about 10 years, until the fall of my sophomore year in college. I was at a fall retreat and they were talking about missions. In that moment God had started to stir in my heart that He had something different, something so much bigger in store for me. From that time on, I knew that God wanted to take me on a different journey. With God's gentle, or not so gentle nudging in my case (I am one of His more stubborn children) I started to lay down the plans that I had held onto for SO LONG.
Through the next year and a half of my life the Lord continued to grow my heart for missions. I remember clearly sitting in one of my classes my junior year, not knowing where God was leading me and just praying what do you want me to do with my life? He gave me the words of Isaiah 61:
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.” ~Isaiah 61:1-3
As exciting as this revelation was, it was also SO frustrating. I AM A PLANNER! That means, I would like specifics in advance (years, not months or days, please!) but this is all that the Lord would reveal to me at the time.
As time went on, I continued to seek God in what this passage was going to mean in my life. Last year, I was given my answer as He lead me to Thailand for the summer to work with women caught in the sex trade. While I was in Thailand, something beautiful happened. These women weren't just prostitutes working in a red light district, they were my sweet sisters that longed for the freedom and satisfaction that only Jesus could give. But it wasn't just these sweet women that were so hungry for what Jesus had to offer. There were the lonely men that came to these bars looking to fill a void that wouldn't be filled with a night, or a week in a red light district, there were the precious Thai children that needed to know the love of a true God, and the street vendors longing to be of value to somebody and not just pushed aside by everybody they encountered.
Even now as I type these words, my heart breaks for each of my brothers and sisters that I met last summer. But I find comfort in the fact that the Lord is not finished with His plan for them. I am so amazed at the fact that He loves me enough to include me in His plan for redeeming His people.
For a while I thought that God's purpose of Isaiah 61 in my life was complete with my time in Thailand. But I know now, that this is a passage He will use in the entirety of my life. He has called me to the nations so He can use me to bring the nations to Himself, such a cool picture and a sweet promise!
He called me to the nations, even before I knew Him and that is so exciting because it shows me just one of many reasons that I can trust Him because He knows exactly what He is doing in every single step of my life. It is such an honor to be able to serve Him in something that I have such a passion for. He is so good to us.
I am so excited for this ministry the Lord has so beautifully laid before me and I would love to invite you to be a part of this ministry with me. In order to go on the World Race, I need to raise a total of $15,500. This seems like a big number, but I serve a big God and I know that He is going to provide everything I need for this trip, including the financial support.
There are four deadlines that I need to meet along the way, the first of which is coming up in about a month (June 29th, to be exact). I need to have $3,500 in my account in order to be able to go to training camp in July. I am currently at $1,250. That means I have a little over a month to see the Lord bring in $2,250. The cool thing is that I know that God has this so all I need to do is trust Him in this.
If you feel led to give, you can click the tab on the left side of this blog that says Support Me! Or if you would like to cut out the processing fee you can mail a check made out to Adventures in Missions with WEBBJILLIAN in the memo line to:
Adventures in Missions
PO Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
If you have any questions for me feel free to click the Contact link to the left and I would love to answer any questions you would have.
At this time I would also love to ask for your support in prayers. Please pray for my team as we prepare to take part in this amazing experience that the Lord has for us. Pray that the Lord would break us and teach us everything that He has for us in order to further His kingdom and His glory. Also please pray for every single sweet child of His that we are going to meet along the way.
Thank you all for the love, support, and encouragement you have given me. It means so much!
