So this is the last day I have before I launch. We just heard a talk from a man named Clint. He told us a story about how when his daughter was 5, his wife told him that he needed to hang out with his daughter and do something with her more. Clint was saying how he was like “But she is a girl, what do I do with a little 5 year girl to hang out?” His wife said, “You’re a big boy figure it out.” So he did an ATL, (ask the Lord). And what he heard was to ask his daughter to help him change the oil in his car. So Clint went to his daughter and asked her to come out and help him change the oil. After his daughter said “no” a few times she finally went out there and helped him. He was describing how they were laying under the car and using a wrench and the oil slowly started to drain out. In that moment Clint had a revelation. He realized that he didn’t need help from his 5 year old daughter, he was a grown man and could do it on his own, it wasn’t a hard task, but he wanted his daughter to do it and to help him and so they could get closer. That is what God wants from me. He could easily just snap his fingers and change The Nations himself and make it all better but he loves me and wants to spend time with me so he has asked me to help him. And after years of saying “No” to God I have finally said “Yes God, I will change the oil with you. I will be your hands and feet in The Nations and spend time with you and see all you can do through me.”
This story really hit me. In more ways than one. For one I have always been super independent and would rather do things on my own but there isn’t much I wouldn’t do with my dad. Also I kind of became angry? I was mad that I said “No” to God for so long and said “yes” to society and to the “American Dream”. I personally think as an American I have the freedom to make that dream whatever the heck I want it to be. And more importantly as Gods daughter I have the ability to make that dream whatever I want it to be especially if it is pleasing Him. My mom always told me that Gods timing is better than our timing. I always wanted things to happen on my time. But now I can see that that day you finally just stop trying so hard to make everything on your own time that thats the day God says “Geez, finally, thank you! This is what I have for you NOW.” Now I believe what my mom has been telling me.
I could not be happier that I finally said yes to my dream. The thing that I have always wanted to do. “…its never to late or to early to be exactly who you want to be.”
Please be praying for me, my team, my squad and the other squads, as we embark on that dream tomorrow morning. Some specific things you could be praying for may be that we have safe flights from Atlanta to LA to China and then over to the Philippines, that we can all get fully funded for this trip, and just to calm our nerves and have open hearts and be able to fully focus on what God has called us all to do.
I love you all and miss you all!
-Madz
