“The word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations…’
From Ashland to Africa… And Back Again
I have a confession to make…
I like riding in flatbed trucks. Really… I do! And I like washing my hair in the public water pump, and I love dancing. Let me paint you a picture of one of my favorite moments of the World Race. We were exploring the African bush in Mozambique. It had been a long day. Playing with the greatest kids in the world in the morning, hopping on the truck to head to a (more) remote village in the afternoon. We spend some time with the people there, drop off some much-needed food, share about God’s love for them, and dance!
On the way home one night, I was sitting in the back of a flatbed with about 20 other people, a bicycle, and a few chickens. It was a beautiful night and the southern stars were shining down on us. I remember thinking… this is what it means to follow Jesus… I have talked about it and analyzed it for so long, but this is what it means to live it in real time! The words from a Snow Patrol (random) song wee ringing in my ears… This could be the very moment I’m aware I’m alive… All these places feel like home. I have never been happier – I was in love with Jesus and in love with Africa… I was dreaming of dancing and holding orphans…
The next day, I received an email from a friend in Ashland, Ohio, asking me to apply for an internship at my alma mater University (Ashland). The position would include coordinating the universities outreach projects and short-term mission trips. It would also include a full ride to grad school.
Thousands of thoughts started racing through my head. Pro’s. Con’s. Questions. To be honest with you, my first reaction was to scream “no way!” and delete the email. You have to understand that I had just spent the night before feeling more alive than I had ever been and loving every inch of Africa…It wasn’t until several weeks later that the time came to make a decision. By that time, we were in Swazi for our mid-year debrief. The timing was perfect… we had a scheduled day of silence to spend seeking the Lord. It was prefect for me, because it can be difficult for me to shut up and listen long enough to really hear from the Father. I asked Him to still my thoughts and quiet my mind and speak to me. I did not expect what happened next (further proof that our Shepherd is beautiful, consistently unpredictable).
‘You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you… Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, ‘Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:4-9
I remember walking out the gate, asking the Lord for a vision and closing my eyes. Immediately I saw myself teaching and imparting to a group of university students. “I heard myself saying things like, “And if you are sons, then you are heirs… Heirs of God! The nations are your inheritance! WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT?!?!” Everything that had been poured into me came to mind. Identity. Authority. Gifts. Warfare. Healing. Listening prayer. We had talked recently about how a prophet, at it’s core, is someone who speaks and brings dead (or dying or tired or numb) things to life. Verses kept coming to mind…
“…You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you…”
“I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.” John 5:25
“Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says, Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them, they came to life and stood up on their feet – a vast army.” Ezekiel 37:9-10
So I said what I always say to God (eventually). “Okay.”
BUT, you know what they say: You can take the girl out of Africa…
I am having visions of Ashland and dreams of Africa. The children in Africa have run off with my heart. It is simple in my mind – every child needs a mother. And these are amazing kids. I couldn’t imagine a higher calling… There is also a saying about Africa that the Christian faith there is miles wide and inches deep. The Spirit of God is moving powerfully and many are giving their lives to Jesus, but many are in need to discipleship for the seed to take root in good soil.
Here’s the best part. I have no idea what the future holds! Isn’t that great?!? I am truly incredibly excited to return to my family and friends, to encourage and be encouraged in our journeys with the Lord, and to speak and watch God breathe life. AND I believe I am dreaming of Africa for a reason. After getting the internship and scholarship for Ashland, I asked the Lord, Why are you asking me to postpone my call to the nations? He asked me one question. Is America a nation? You are not waiting to become a missionary… You are a missionary, starting now. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.
More than ever, I’m yours for the Journey.
