sometimes it’s really easy to say it. “Lord, I trust You”. other times, it’s not so easy.
about halfway through quarantine (back in march), a friend of mine shared these words with me. words that she had started saying out loud and in her head, a reminder that God does have things figured out-even when it doesn’t seem that way to us. this became a constant prayer of mine and still is, sometimes it leads into a longer time of prayer and sometimes it’s the simple phrase “Lord, I trust You”. it has become a phrase that continually brings me back to the goodness of our God.
on Tuesday this week, my squad and I found out that we will no longer be serving in Africa. the borders to the countries that we would have been serving in are still closed to Americans.
Lord, I trust you.
we were told that our options were to cancel our semester, join the North Carolina group, or join the group traveling to Ecuador. I didn’t want to choose any of them. my heart is in Africa, my plan was to serve in Africa, my excitement and nerves all surounded Africa.
Lord, I trust you.
realistically, I knew that Africa is simply not an option anymore. after some time processing all of this, I have chosen instead to go to Ecuador. (this girl does not know hardly any Spanish!! prayers appreciated for that.) we will be in Ecuador for the full three months, serving in special needs and children ministry, teaching English, and possibly serving women who are victims of trafficking. as much as I know this experience will be just as important to the mission of sharing the gospel, I still lament in not being able to serve in Africa.
Lord, I trust you.
a couple of days after learning about this change, I was at lunch with another friend. she had shared that she had been to Ecuador a couple of times and was overflowing with joy for the new opportunity that had been provided for me. about halfway through lunch, we realized that the ministry partner in Ecuador that I will be connected to is the same organization that she had previously interned with!
okay God, I see you. and, I trust you.
each and every day I am continued to be blown away by God’s plan. when the door to Africa closed, I hesitantly switched to the Ecuador trip. days later learning that we will be serving in children’s ministry (anyone who knows me, knows my heart for kids), l felt yet another nudge from God that this is really where I’m supposed to be going. the reason may not be revealed to me for years, or ever in my time on earth, however even after a change as big as this, I still feel God’s peace surrounding me as I begin to now prepare for Ecuador.
this change serves as yet another reminder to me that my faith is not “comfortable”. I want to serve a God who pushes me into new opportunities, a God who will never let me down or leave me hanging, a God who is a constant, and a provider of every opportunity in my life.
with all this being said, I hope to have more information to share soon! until then, I would greatly appreciate prayers as my squad and I sit in this time of change and lament.
fundraising update: I am so thankful to everyone who has financially donated, I am currently about 17% funded!
