One month ago I had no intentions of going on The World Race. I couldn’t have even told you what The World Race was, yet here I am today preparing to leave everything I know for 11 months. It’s humbling how quickly God works.
In two weeks I fly to Georgia for 8 days at training camp. I really don’t know what will happen there. What happens at training camp, stays at training camp, I guess. I wish I could let you all know, but well I guess they keep it a secret for a reason. It should be interesting… Please keep me in prayer during this week. The dates are October 16-23.
I got accepted to the World Race exactly 10 days ago. The last week has been a blur, yet so clear. I’ve never been so sure of God’s purpose for me. How cool, right? The God that breathed the stars, loves me and he has a plan for me. Me. Yes, even lowly me. All He asks is that I step out in faith and trust Him.
For the past few months I’ve been working on stepping out in faith more and more. I’ve been taking care of a beloved older gentleman with Parkinson’s. His name is Pastor Barnes. When I was initially asked to help take care of him, I wanted to sprint in the opposite direction, but the Spirit stopped me dead in my tracks. I felt convicted. If not me, then who will take care of him? “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me” (Matt 25:40). Ok, ok God I got the message!!! Don’t you hate that? The Holy Spirit can be so convicting sometimes. Grrr… I begrudgingly did it. I began helping him with some of his day to day needs. And what a blessing it has been! Inside his frail, weathered body is a spiritual giant. There’s so much Godly wisdom behind those old eyes and he can recite scripture like nobody’s business. I’ve learned so much from him over the past few months. I almost missed out on this blessing. Justin could have gotten in the way, but I stepped out in faith.
Pastor Barnes and I sit down and talk when I have some extra time during my busy schedule. I share many of my daily struggles with him and he always has some nugget of wisdom for me. I’ve been struggling to step out in faith on the fundraising aspect of this trip and he related a story he once heard about a missionary headed to a foreign mission field. This missionary showed up at the docks to catch his ship for some distant country. All his bags were packed for the long journey that lay ahead. A few people from his church arrived to send him off. A man from the church handed the missionary a check and explained that the Lord had put it in his heart to support his trip. The missionary thanked him and purchased the ticket for his journey. As the missionary said his final goodbyes, the man asked the missionary if he had the money to purchase his ticket when he arrived at the docks. The missionary replied, “No.”
What faith!
To quote John Denver “My bags are packed. I’m ready to go.” I’m stepping out on faith.
I’m not sure how God will provide for me on this trip, but I promise to tell you the story when it happens. Please keep me in prayer. I still have some financial needs that have to be met in order to go to training camp in two weeks. Tomorrow is the deadline.
The good news is that My God is bigger than deadlines.
