On Monday, May 20th, life forever changed for a small town in Oklahoma when a tornado swept through, leaving a path of destruction and wreckage.
Some lives were lost and many more were changed forever. When I walked into the living room Monday night and saw it on the news, I was kind of numb. I didn't really react at first. It just seemed like one more tragedy in a stream of bad news that has dominated the television in 2013.
What used to look like a million other suburbs now looks like a war zone. Even as the bad news struck, the good news seeped through, too. News of teachers saving the lives of their children. News of churches showing up and providing for basic needs. News of victims finding pets and cherished items among the rubble. Bits of light in a very dark situation.
Underneath my numbness, I felt a stirring. I had an urge to pack up my backpack, tent, and other world race gear and trek over to Oklahoma. I would just show up and help where I was needed. If I was on the race and a tornado hit one of our countries, we would all immediately head that way and start serving. Why couldn't I respond the same way in my own country, with my own neighbors?
Of course, it didn't take long for reality to set in. I don't actually have most of my world race gear. Oklahoma is 16 hours away. I can't just pop up my tent in the middle of the wreckage. Oh, and I have no idea what I could do to help and would end up just taking more of the supplies needed for everyone else. I quieted the stirring and went on about my day.
The next day, The World Race posted a blog. I must have gone to the website the second they posted it because I believe I was the very first page view on the post. The blog talked about the Oklahoma tragedy and what people could do to help… including going on short term relief trips to serve.
The stirring returned.
God, this is crazy. I can't go on a mission trip right now. Don't you remember? I'm in the middle of preparing for an eleven-month trip already! This is absurd. How would I get there? How would I pay for it? I can't raise more money; I'm still fundraising for the world race. You can't be serious!
Then, I got down on my knees on my bedroom floor and said, "God, this seems crazy. I don't know how this would even work. But if You want me to go to Oklahoma to serve, if that's how you want me to love You and Your people, I'll go. Just make a way."
Later that day, I texted my best friend from high school, Kirstin. When I told her about the trip, she immediately wanted to go, too. She entered this summer feeling a calling to serve. She didn't know how or where, but she knew she wasn't supposed to take a job. She was supposed to serve. As she watched the news coverage of the tornado, she was moved by the people they showed. Their hope and courage inspired her, and she longed to go be a part of it all.
Well, dear friends, today Kirstin and I submitted our applications.
I am going to Oklahoma for eight days to serve the victims of the tornado.
As long as our applications and interviews go well, we will leave in two weeks and, with travel days, will be gone for ten days (June 7-16). The trip costs are so low that we aren't fundraising; we are both paying for the trip out of our own pockets.
I am in awe. When I prayed about taking a full-time job this summer, God said no. I had no idea this is what He had in mind.
I don't have to wait until September to start serving Christ. I am a missionary now. I am called to be the hands and feet of Jesus– and that means responding to the needs of His people. Right now, there are some hurting people in Oklahoma who are reeling from a tragedy, and God is sending me to love on them and help meet their needs.
It is one of the biggest honors I've ever been given.
Please pray for me and Kirstin as we prepare for this mission trip. We only have two weeks before we hit the road! Please pray for safety as we travel and blessings upon the family willing to host us on the way there and back. Please pray that we would be filled with the Holy Spirit as we minister to the people of Moore, Oklahoma– that our words would be from Him and that our actions would show God's love to these people.
For updates on this trip to Oklahoma, click "Update Alerts" on the left hand side of this page to receive an email anytime I post a blog. I will be putting up pictures and stories when I return!
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I still have to raise $2,060 to cover the cost of the world race, so if God lays it on your heart to help send me out by supporting me financially, click "Support Me" on the left to make a tax-deductible donation online. Or, cut out the 3% online processing fee by writing a check to "Adventures in Missions" with "WARDKALEIGH" in the info line and mailing it to:
Adventures in Missions
PO Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
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If you feel led to help cover the cost of my personal expenses (supplies/gear, flight to launch city, immunizations), you can contact me personally for more information. I am paying for as much as I can out of own pocket, but I appreciate any donations for these costs as well!
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