I always knew that God had big plans for my life but I never fully understood what they were. This month in Panama I think God is giving me a little glimpse of what that looks like. I do not understand it in the least but I trust He will continue to show me on this crazy journey.
If you have been tracking with me over these last few months you’ll remember that when we were in Haiti, God brought me into the deaf community in Leveque and it appears that was only a glimpse of what was to come…
Before the race started I was attending UW Milwaukee studying American Sign Language with the intention of becoming an interpreter. After only two years of study I decided to change my major to Psychology and go on the world race. Although I never planned on using ASL again, I never could have dreamed where God would lead me because of it. It seems that God had crazy plans for that skill set.
Back in Haiti God introduced me to the idea of deaf ministry outside of the US and I was so confused. Why would God take something that I had walked away from and choose to utilize it 4,000 miles away? Well it seems that wouldn’t be the only time He decided to do that… and this time its even crazier.
This month in Panama God changed my entire life through one little boy named Moises. Moises is the most adorable child I have ever met, his laughter can be heard from all around, his smile radiates through his eyes and his joy is evident through everything he does. The special thing about Moises is that he is deaf and up until two years ago he did not have any language at all.
A missionary couple named Danny and Heather, through their ministry, icjesus, has been working with him over the last two years. They have been teaching him and his community ASL and pouring their lives into Moises’ family. Heather is, not so by chance, a Sign Language interpreter.
The last two weeks Heather and Danny have been back in the US. This, while sad, has given me the opportunity to go see Moises and continue teaching him and playing with him in their absence. Although I would much prefer them being here, there is no doubt in my mind that their leaving and our coming was divine appointment.
On ministry days Alissa and I head out around 9:30 in the morning, we grab a taxi and head to the terminal. From there we catch a bus (really more like a gua gua) and head up the mountain to a little village named Oma. Riding in a gua gua is an experience that cannot fully be described in words. Imagine with me for a moment being in a fifteen passenger van, only its a little bit smaller and there are about twenty-five people piled in. They’re all sweating on top of each other and colliding at every turn. It only takes about an hour to get to Oma but the real challenge begins once we arrive!
The hill… this hill is giant… huge! Climbing down the hill takes skill, precision, focus and better knees than I have. Okay… maybe I am exaggerating a little bit. We climb down the hill, through the path and on to meet Moises. Every time we show up he is smiley and excited to see us. We get to play games, take pictures (he is such a ham) and learn some signs.
Moises is so smart its crazy. He loves pulling out the book of signs and doing the alphabet, counting, identifying colors and animals. Living in the mountains of Panama has definitly not disqualified him from being incredibly good at playing games on an iPhone. He also loves running around in his underwear and all things boy.
Meeting Moises has changed my life. My life is no longer defined by my own plans or dreams but rather the idea… the belief… that putting my life in the hands of God and simply saying yes will yield more life bringing adventure than I could ever dream possible.
My expectations of the World Race and my life have completely been blown out of the water, and it is only month four. I guess what I would like to convey to you, if anything, is this…
God is powerful, He is able and He is willing to use you, YOU just the way you are. The mistakes you have made, the disobedience you have walked in, the plans that have changed and the life reroutes that have happened… In the Kingdom of God they all serve a purpose. His purpose. My purpose in life is only to glorify the Creator of the universe and make myself fully available to Him.
Don’t discount yourself based on experience, age or insecurities. I have two years of college under my belt, I am the youngest person on my squad of 40 and I have struggled with self image, anxiety, bitterness and identity since I was in seventh grade. God was not limited by any of those circumstances in my life. He is not limited by any of the circumstances in yours.
Future racers… if any of you are reading this, heres a little piece of what I have learned. Lose everything you are and everything you have for the sake of the Kingdom month one. Lose the anxiety, the fear, the walls, the bitterness, the selfishness, the hatred, the insecurities, the lies… all of it. Leave it all behind and dont allow it on your race. Dont allow it in your life.
For those of you at home. The World Race is not the only way to live adventurously. Place yourself in the hands of God and don’t ever look back. Living life to the fullest doesnt always mean doing different things, it means doing things differently. You can be right where you are at and have the adventure of a lifetime.
Pics up soon!
I am also still short on my fundraising goal due at the end of this month! If you would like to support me and all of the ministry opportunities I have had please click on the “support me” button on the top of the page. All donations made are tax deductible and very much appreciated. 🙂 I love you all.
