how i was called to the mission field

we were asked to write a blog about how we were called to this mission trip.  here is my story….

 

i wish i had a really incredible story to share where the clouds opened up and God came down and said to me in a deep voice, “lacey!  you will be a missionary and go on the world race where you will be taken around the world to share my love.” and then the angels sing a round of some angelic “ahhhhahhhh’s”, the clouds close up and i’m there standing wide eyed and completely confused. but i don’t.

 

i’m just an ordinary woman who has persevered through so many struggles and so much heartache in order to be formed into someone God could use; however, God has made my ordinary story extraordinary.

 

i became a christian at the age of 7. i grew up in a christian home with Godly parents.  i was extremely active in my church and was all around a good christian girl.  i went away to college and veered from the path a bit.  i was a party animal living for myself and unconcerned with anything else.  when i graduated and went into the world i had the same mentality.  i met a guy, dated him for a short period, got married, and endured a hard marriage for 3 years of my life when he asked for a divorce.  in those 3 years i had filed for bankruptcy and changed jobs.  the job change was good. 

 

in my new position i was surrounded with an absolutely incredible group of people who knew me for a short period of time, but loved me and cared deeply for me.  i was invited to church by my boss about 3 times before i finally decided to go.  after a month of attending church, i ended up joining and rededicating my life to God.  i haven’t been the same since. 

 

my boss casually mentioned the world race in a conversation one day.  i had never heard of it, so of course i had to google it since i google everything.  once i found the world race website, i became so engrossed in the racers’ blogs.  the more i read, the more i wanted to know.  i prayed about the world race.  it was crazy for me considering i am one of the girliest girls you would ever meet and had more shoes than the shoe department at macys and clothes to match.  God had changed my heart though.  “things” were no longer important to me.  i was willing to give everything i had up in order to be obedient. 

 

i decided one day to sign up on the world race website to get more information.  i didn’t tell anyone, but i prayed that if i was really supposed to do this thing that God would in someway confirm the decision so i would know that was what He was truly calling me to do.  on our way to a meeting that day, my boss and i were discussing a mission trip to africa this summer.  in the middle of the conversation he said, “i really hate to say this because you know we all love working with you and don’t ever want you to leave, but i think you should seriously pray about the world race.”  my jaw dropped.  there it was – the confirmation i had been looking for.  i got weirded out though and asked God again that if He was really, really, really sure that He wanted to send me that he would give me confirmation just one more time. 

 

while reading my Bible that night, God gave me this verse:

 

there it was.  plain as day.  i was really supposed to go.  i applied the next day.

 

out of the craziness that my life brings me, the only thing that i knew for sure without a doubt was that God was sending me to do this and the rest would work out.  i ask myself daily why God chose me and how my life could possibly be used to glorify Him.  as always, He responded with this verse:

 

so here i am.  i’m not scared.  i’m at peace.  i was born for this.