Thank you so much in advance for taking the time to read about the most significant and exciting adventure of my life thus far. Whether I knew it or not, I have always been on a journey to find God’s purpose for my life. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you a portion of my testimony, some notable areas of my journey and the place I am currently.
Testimony: Some of my friends and family already know this about me, but many do not… From as far back as I can remember I struggled with depression and anxiety. Certain pieces of my life I felt I had no control over had devastated me; I was not seeking the Lord and I was involved in unhealthy relationships and substance abuse as a result. During those dark and painfully confusing seasons of my life, I believed God was real but I assumed He was disappointed in the person I was exhibiting myself to be. I misguidedly thought He must have been punishing me by keeping me depressed, so I ran from Him and attempted to self-medicate with the things of this world.
This went on for years, and I was drained, hopeless and lonely. None of my relationships were fulfilling and no substance or material object had satisfied me. I knew I needed a change. So I set out in attempt to rid my life of the negative things I had allowed in for so long; this took much time and effort to accomplish on my own. I had the support of my family and close friends who had my best interests at heart, but I was still relying on my own abilities and strengths to mentally and physically carry out these tasks. I thought maybe the depression would lift once I moved away from the negative things in my environment–because it was obvious the anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications were not working–but I was only half-right. Subtraction absolutely needed to take place in many areas of my life, but there was also an enormous void that I was hyper-aware of and needed to fill.
There was a day when I realized I had finally dropped the unhealthy relationships (huge feat), I was far away from drugs and alcohol, I was making perfect grades in college and I had a really great job at the university that I loved. But I remember thinking, “isn’t this what everyone said would make me happy?” and “I should feel better about all of this than I do”. But I wasn’t happy and I didn’t feel better; in fact, I was more frustrated and lonely than ever and desperate for some comfort and security.
A Few Turning Points: I have learned that sometimes we need to be alone. Solitude gives God’s still, soft voice an opportunity to be heard above the noise of our minds and the chaos of this world. I feel the Lord isolated me for a short season for this purpose. (1 Kings 19:11-13)
One night, alone at my apartment in Stillwater, I decided to get down on my knees and pray. I didn’t know what else to do. No person, regardless of how hard they tried or loved me, and no thing had been able to help me; trust me I searched long and hard enough! So, I wholeheartedly cried out to God for the first time. I begged Him to make me feel something and I asked Him to show me if He was really there. I sincerely apologized to Him for the way I had lived for so long, I admitted that I knew it was wrong but I hadn’t been ready to face Him. Then I promised Him that if He would make a move in my life, I would devote the rest of it to Him. I didn’t even know what that looked like yet, but I knew I meant it.
I’m happy to tell you that I saw the faithfulness of God in a new and powerful way that week. I learned that many times, the Holy Spirit moves quickly when we open ourselves up to receive Him—which is exactly what I did by being alone, getting quiet and asking for Him to come into my life. That very next morning, while studying on campus at the Student Union, the Lord showed me something. A girl named Gabby came up to me, introduced herself and sat down right in front of me. I remember thinking, “I should feel weird about this, but I don’t”. The prayer I had said the night before was still in the front of my mind. I asked God to make a move, so I was waitin’ y’all! 
I knew I needed a Savior; I wanted to see Him in something, but I had no expectation that He would move in so quickly.
God used Gabby as a tool to reach out to me and to show me His presence in my life. She was younger than me, but the wisdom she possessed and generously gave me was beyond her years, beyond that of this world and a gift straight from God. Gabby invited me to get plugged in with the Campus Navigators (a Christian discipleship organization) and she began to disciple me. I met with Gabby every Wednesday and I went on numerous retreats with the Navs during that season. We all worshiped God, studied the Bible, and lived life together. On Wednesdays over coffee, she taught me the importance of devoting time to God and reading His Word every morning (I call it my “quiet time”), she prayed with me, always answered my questions as honestly as she could, held me accountable and never made me feel judged. God used Gabby to show me what it looked like to follow, love and trust Jesus above all else through witnessing her personal walk with Him.
I immediately became hungry and thirsty for the Word of God. I tore through the Bible and wrote journals full of notes and questions—which I still do. Before I opened the bible and read it myself, as an adult, I didn’t have a clue about who Jesus really was or what His sacrifice really meant for me. But I met Him face to face in those moments, usually alone in my apartment, reading about Who He was, the things He said, how He lived, and what He did for us. I went from only being exposed to Jesus, to actually experiencing Him. I got baptized in the lake just outside of town in front of my new brothers and sisters in Christ. In that short season of my life I formed a deeply intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. He radically changed my heart and mind and I haven’t been lonely or depressed ever since.
My favorite piece of scripture is 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. I love it because God has shown me in countless ways that when I am at my weakest, I am strong through Him. The apostle Paul asked the Lord three separate times to take away a “thorn” in his flesh; Paul described the thorn as a messenger sent from Satan to torment him in order to keep Him from becoming proud because of the many extraordinary revelations the Lord had shown him. This metaphorical thorn Paul spoke of made him weak in certain ways and he desperately wanted to be rid of it. But Jesus knew what was most beneficial for Paul. The thorn was something that would keep Paul nearest to and strongest in Him.
“Each time [Jesus] said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong”. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT)
Many of us, including myself at times, don’t look to Jesus unless we are in desperate and immediate need of Him. We dial His number like 911–emergency situations only. We only call on Him when we feel the weakest and have lost hope in everything else. According to my favorite scripture, in those instances we are at our absolute strongest. That is because when we finally turn to Him, we can hear Him better and He can move best in us. I wonder, what if we all decided to be that weak, every single day? Just completely lose all hope in anything of this world and in our own abilities and completely rely on His power to sustain us? What if we dialed His number more often than any other number?
Something I Think Is Awesome: Because of Jesus, all of my past mistakes and present shortcomings amount to testimony cultivation which actually makes me stronger. My dark past has become a powerful tool and a stepping-stone instead of a stumbling block!
A Little History: I have had some incredible experiences and opportunities, both spiritually and professionally. I’ll share some my favorites: I contributed to the growth and development of children while caring for infants and teaching preschool children at KinderCare. I’ve organized and executed many beautiful weddings, corporate meetings and other special events as Catering Manager for the Doubletree Hotel at Warren Place. I lived and worked outdoors for a year while cutting and maintaining hiking and equestrian trails in numerous Texas state parks with a crew of 10 people for the Texas Conservation Corps. I’ve assisted in the research and harvest of numerous wheat varieties for Oklahoma State University. I’ve experienced and benefited from the power of Christian discipleship through my involvement with the Campus Navigators. I am currently a youth leader and spiritual big sister to a group of middle school girls through the youth program at Lifechurch.tv in Broken Arrow called Switch, where I am able to use my past experiences as tools to reach the next generation and further God’s Kingdom.
Present Goals: Although they are quite different from one another, each of these experiences contributed to the person I am today, I picked up many valuable skills from each one, and I believe the Lord lead me to and carried me through all of them. Now I’d like to share with you the newest and the most exciting experience that I believe with all of my heart God has lead me to, and that is The World Race.
On the World Race, I will be a missionary to 11 countries around the world in 11 months. One of the unique things about the World Race is that it’s not only a mission trip, but also an intensive discipleship program designed to launch my generation into our specific kingdom calling. Through the World Race, my team and I will serve in partnership with churches and ministries in local communities to share the Gospel, plant churches, work in orphanages, minister to women and children trapped in prostitution as a result of human trafficking, and bring the restorative hope of the Father’s love to many tribes and nations.
Jesus is so much more than just historical; He is alive and present, He is eternally relevant, and He wants an intimate relationship with every single one of His people. But there are too many of those who have come into this world in places where His life and His sacrifice for them is not known and, even more unfortunately, in many of these places even the mention of His Name is illegal. That is where the World Race comes in, and that is where I come in—God uses His people to reach His people! My personal mission is to shine His Light in these dark places and show His Love to as many of His people as I am allowed to, so that they may come to know Him, and find peace and a hope in that which is not of this world.
Who to thank/blame for telling me about the World Race: I learned about the Race through my friend and former World Racer, Kelsey Schulz. Kelsey completed the World Race twice! After hearing about her experiences on the field, I could hardly think about anything else for weeks. In considering all of the experiences God has lead me through so far, it makes so much sense (spiritually and logically) for me to be a part of this kingdom movement.
Present challenges: I will face many challenges all throughout the World Race, but as I prepare for my departure, one of my greatest challenges is my financial support. Like most other missions organizations, World Race participants are required to fundraise financial support. In order to leave fully funded in January 2016, I need to raise $17,562. This money will cover all of my field expenses for the 11 months of the trip.
I have to meet my first fundraising goal of $4,500 by September 25, 2015, which is quickly approaching. As I take this large step of faith in trusting the Lord and devoting my life to Him, would you prayerfully consider partnering with me at $100 monthly or whatever amount you feel lead to give? All monthly support or one-time gifts that you contribute will greatly help me to reach my financial goals for this mission and make this dream a reality. I ask that you keep me in your prayers as I continue to seek after God’s specific calling on my life.
You can visit my blog at laciepartney.theworldrace.org to learn more about me, follow my journey and support me. Thank you so much in advance for all of your encouragement, prayers and support. I love you all.
Adventures In Missions is a tax-exempt organization under IRS code 501(c)(3) and is a member of the ECFA. (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability). Due to IRS and ECFA regulations governing the administration of tax-deductible donations given in support of a particular trip/program, support contributions given on behalf of an individual will be used to offset the costs of the trip/program you are involved in. All contributions are non-refundable regardless of the participant’s success in completing the program.
Yours in Christ,
Lacie
