I remember clearly asking Jesus into my heart when I was 4 years old. Even more vivid is the memory at the same age of the Lord tugging gently on my heart for the little children I saw in a video from Africa. The video talked about them needing clothes and food and Jesus. I asked my mom if the video was true. She said yes. I wanted to go there. I wanted to share my clothes, I wanted to share my food and I wanted to tell them about baby Jesus. That desire has never left my heart. It has even grown stronger with age. “Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.”1 Chronicles 14:17
Along the path of my life there has been a lot of pain and some bad distractions that I had to grow and work through, but God has always been so gracious, faithful and forgiving! “Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.” Joel 2:13
There have been several paths I believed that I was supposed to walk down. One was a long-term mission trip with my old college leader/friend that I had gone on a month-long mission trip to Rome with. The other was a ministry school. The Lord closed the doors for both, in some crazy ways. I heard about the world race from a friend that went about 5 years ago. I thought it sounded amazing, but for many reasons never believed it was something I could or would do. First and foremost, I am very shy and introverted. Second, it scares me thinking of getting in front of people and speaking. But God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 Finally, I have never been away from my family for more then a couple of months much less in 11 different countries for 11 months. I have prayed for a long time and believe that the Lord is calling me to step way out of my comfort zone and follow where He is leading me to go. As I step out I am standing on His promises and the first verse I learned, which is also one of my favorites. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 Let me share with you what God is calling me to do.
I am going on the word race through Adventures in Missions. This is an 11-month, 11 country mission trip. We will be leaving early January 2020 and be back late November. We know that 20/20 is perfect vision and I believe this is God’s perfect will for my life in 2020.The countries I will be going to are Australia, Indonesia, India, Nepal, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Spain and Morocco. The route I am taking is called Expedition. My primary focus on the Expedition will be the 10/40 window. The 10/40 window is a rectangular area of the globe signifying groups of people unreached by the Gospel of Jesus. It stretches from latitude 10 degrees N to 40 degrees N of the equator. It covers North Africa, the Middle East and Asia. In each country we will be partnering with churches, missions and ministries. My team and I will be working and serving orphanages, church plants, human trafficking victims, refugees, teaching English and doing whatever the needs are presented to us.
Please partner with me in this journey. There are two ways that you can do this. The first is through prayer. The power of prayer is a mighty thing! Please pray for me, my team, the people we will be working with and most of all that MANY will be reached with the gospel and come to now Jesus as their savior. My prayer for myself is that I grow closer to the Lord and share His unfailing love to everyone in my path. The second is through financial support. As you are fully aware traveling for missions can be costly. I believe that God will supply. If you feel led by the Lord, please give. You can do this by clicking the link at the top of the blog. You can also contact me and talk to me about other options. Thank you so much for taking the time to read about what the Lord is doing and there will be more blogs and vlogs to come. Please keep following my journey and praying with me through all of it.
“ to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:22
