Its funny how God works. I will no longer be going on Gap Year, the World Race has called instead! Since switching routes I’ve been asked a few different questions. So I’m writing this to share my heart with everyone. Sorry its so lengthy.
Why missions? Obviously God called me, but why did I answer? Why the World Race? God made me to be a servant to others – to all of His creation – to all of His children. He gave me the gift of compassion and a heart for others.
I enjoy serving others. I like to make people smile and laugh. I like to help people – whether it be by listening to them, holding a door open, carrying something, (I’m a nursing assistant so I do other things like making beds, wiping butts, feeding people, baths, you know, the fun stuff).
It isn’t the work, though, that I enjoy. Its spending time with those people – my brothers and sisters. Its seeing their smile or hearing their laugh. Its hearing about their families, their worries, their struggles, the little things they like and that make them happy. Its hearing their stories. Its being a friend/ a listening ear. Its being a little light in their day.
Let me tell you something about being a light in someone’s day. It’s something that everyone who calls themselves a believer in Christ is called to be. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6.
In Matthew 5:14 Jesus says, “You are the light of the world…” and in verse 16 He says, “…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
I had a patient one day, he was and older man and it just so happened that I was a part of the welcoming committee when he got admitted to the unit I was working on. They rolled him up on the stretcher and I followed behind to help get him settled into his bed and what he would call home the next few days. His wife was with him – a very sweet woman. So I taught her how to operate the tv remote and answered whatever questions she had. I then politely excused myself and continued to check on them throughout the rest of my shift.
When I went into work the next day I was happy to see that I had been assigned to him and that end of the hall. So I proceeded to go about my day as usual until at some point during my shift his wife stopped me. She pulled out this DVD and handed it to me explaining what it was and that it was her last copy but had brought it to give to whoever was interested. I got really excited as I looked at it because it was a tape explaining the science behind the book of Genesis. (Call me a nerd, but I find that interesting.) She then smiled and asked if I was a Christian. I responded, “yes ma’am” at which point her smile grew even bigger. “I thought so!”, she said as she looked to her husband who explained that she had been talking about me earlier. At this point I had to ask how she was so sure I was a Christian. She then explained that she just knew. I had been so nice and helpful that she just knew.
John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Being a light. That’s our calling. That’s everyone’s calling.
Jesus’s heart is simple! Its to love and obey God and to love everyone- all nations, all of His creation, all our brothers and sisters just as much as we love ourselves.
I once heard a good friend of mine say that following Jesus is simple! We’re the one’s who make it difficult. (Megan Parham)
And that’s why I serve – that’s why I answered God’s call on my life to the mission field. To be a little light in this dark world. To bring a little hope to the hopeless. To bring a little love to those who feel unloved.
Going on the World Race is not something I choose lightly. I felt God pushing me towards it. I will be spending 11 months in 11 different countries across 4 continents living simply – out of a backpack.
To spend a year learning how to live with nothing but God and what He supplies for me is the best way I can think of to live. I have a deep desire to grow in my relationship with Him and to learn how to be with Him in the midst of challenges and not just when my life is going good. Honestly, I’m to excited to be scared or nervous (I suppose that’ll come later).
I believe God is going to grab ahold of me and teach me things that He can’t teach me while I’m at home curled up in a blanket watching Netflix. I expect this to be the hardest, most challenging year of my life. I expect God to break me, but to use my team mates and others to build me back up stronger and into the woman that He wants me to be.
Did I mention how excited I am??
[[Acts 20:24]]
