YOUUUUU GUYYYYSSSSSS!! It’s happening! Beginning in October, I will be adventuring with God and a squad full of people who love Jesus to India, Ecuador and Zambia! Over the course of nine months, we will be the hands and feet of Jesus to the people we’re serving which may look vastly different country to country/month to month.
Wait, wait, wait, reeewwwwind. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We need to take a few steps back, so that we can see the bigger picture.
The summer before my senior year of high school, my cousin was about to be sent to the nations on this thing called “The World Race.” I had never heard of it, but the more she told me about it, the faster my heart beat. This!! This was it. This was exactly what my heart was yearning for. I wasn’t old enough to do the World Race (11 countries in 11 months), but luckily for me, the year before they had started this thing called the World Race gap year. This program gave 18-22 year olds the opportunity to take a gap year and share the gospel to three countries in nine months. I went through the whole application process, and was positive this was what I was going to do my first year out of high school. I was soooo sure, I didn’t apply to a single college. Not one.
Wellllll, as time got closer, this uncomfortable feeling kept creeping back into my heart. It was like I knew I was being told “not yet”, but I kept hoping The Lord would change His mind. I couldn’t figure out why in the world the Lord didn’t want me to go, but for whatever reason I heard “stay”. Stay where?!?! Coppell????? For real? Why not in the midst of the Amazon Rainforest, or what about the Northern Lights, even Austin would do? I’ve been in Coppell most of my life!! You’re joking right Lord? Nope. “Stay.”
I kind of kept this on the back burner, as summer was busy and other priorities had my attention. With the end of summer rapidly approaching, I had to make some decisions. The World Race was out of the question for now, and it was too late to apply anywhere for school. I ended up registering at the local community college, and staying home as I said goodbye to all of my friends and watched as they headed off to college.
I didn’t understand at the time why I “had” to stay home, but as I look back I realize it has been such a blessing to me. The Lord humbled me. As I built relationships with my classmates and watched how some were just thankful to have the opportunity to continue their education, I felt my own secret thoughts of “I can be somewhere so much better” disappear. The Lord surrounded me with an amazing, encouraging community of people I had not known before. My friends will sometimes ask me how I met the people I did, and truly it was only through the work of God!! Through strange connections years in the making, I got to meet some of the awesome women I babysit for. The ones who have let me hangout with, love on, learn from, and take care of their children – their treasures! And not only that, some of them have poured into me as if I was their own. He gave me substantial time with my family, and taught me that there is joy even in the mundane, ordinary days of our lives when we’re living with Christ. I could go on and on and on about how He’s blessed this past year for me, but overall He’s shown me that He’s with me through it all and knows my needs waaay before I do.
With all of that being said, I feel as if I’m being called into a new season of life; one of uncertainty about what’s to come, raw community, and steps of faith trusting in the One who will go with me. Though I am so excited for what’s to come, I can’t help but get a little sad when I think of all I’m leaving behind. I have been so amazed by the people who have already reached out to me, prayed for me, listened to me, and been my “wise counsel”. It would be my honor to have you, yes YOU, join me on this journey to come. There are many ways to join! Journey with me. Follow the Lord wherever He’s leading you and live boldly by bringing Light to the darkness. Pray for me. Pray as I prepare to leave, and while I’m gone, that the Lord’s Will be done in my life. Donate!! If you would like to donate, you can do so by clicking the donate button above 🙂
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
I’m thankful for the grace the Lord lavishes upon us, so that we may play even a small part in His mighty Kingdom! Will you join me?
