I remember the moment my heart felt the tug. The first time I saw it with my own eyes. I felt the floor come out from beneath my feet and I questioned everything. God why would you let this happen? Don’t you care about them too? Why haven’t you saved them from this?
We were riding home by tuktuk in the early evening of our home in Cambodia. I looked around to see dozens of women in salons getting ready and even more than that already lining the streets. My first real encounter with human trafficking.
After hours of tears streaming down my face asking my God question after question He said to me “I do care. I see it and my heart breaks too. I’m crying with you. I love them and I’m going to use you to get them back”.
That was the moment He gave me my calling. I have been called to chase after His daughters. To love them deeply and to provide them with a safe place to call home. To lead them out of captivity and into the loving arms of the Father.
It absolutely terrifies me. But it’s something I can’t help but pursue with my whole heart. He’s gifted me with a life story that will minister to them without having to send me through those horrors myself. Little pieces of me that will be able to say “I get it. Not completely, but enough to know how much it hurts”.
Once I began to give myself over to this calling it became so abundantly clear that I need roots. Real deep roots to help me stand so firm that no matter what storm comes I will be able to hold my ground. I have been blessed with incredible roots here in Canada. A loving family who has given me their endless love and support. An incredible education system that will prepare me academically for this journey. And a remarkable church community who will back me up through it all. My roots stretch into the US where my World Race family has continued to love me so well.
In my search for growing roots, God has gifted me with an AMAZING opportunity. And that is to attend a leadership academy called G42 in Mijas, Spain. This program will offer me the chance to grow my roots so deep into the identity I have in Jesus. It will prepare me for life dedicated to missions and surround me with a support network that goes beyond North America.
This program will consist of 3 months in the classroom hearing from a new teacher each week. A large variety of topics will be covered all challenging us to find our roots in Jesus. I’ll then spend 3 months in a different country partnering with a ministry to practically apply what I’ve learned. My last 3 months will be spent back in Mijas debriefing and preparing to be sent back out into the world ready for whatever comes next.
G42 will be a time of stretching and growing to propel me forward into the life I’ve been called to lead. My God has already spoken over me that it will be a time of finding home. Not in a place but in the identity of being His child. Of learning how to carry home with me so I can be that for the girls who have never known it.
I have been called to go so that one day I will have to strength to stay where He’s sent me. These roots I’m growing will be foundational. And once they’ve been planted deep, this heart’s call will be unstoppable.
If you’d like to help support me on this journey, the link to donate it below
https://www.generation42.org/donations
(I’m near the bottom of the page under September 2019)
