When you join the staff at South Hills church, one of the first things they teach you is “the why behind the what“. Meaning, in order to lead people effectively and cast vision to others, they need to know the why before you tell them what to do. Effective leaders always explain the why, the vision and heart, before delegating the what, tasks and projects. In this blog, my heart is to tell you they why, why I decided to join this journey, why I decided to abandon everything I know for a year of the unknown and why I know more than ever, that this is my season. I’ve been asked several questions from family members to coworkers to total strangers and here are a few questions that I hear most often:
What made you want to do this?
The moment I found out the world was bigger than my backyard at a young age was the moment I knew I wanted to see it all. The moment I knew that there was a God bigger than me, and that He died to set me free, was the moment I knew I wanted to serve His people and share of this great love. I also have a deep desire to share the stories of people. Call it my journalistic intuition, but there’s nothing better than a life changing story. I want to bring the stories of people who feel like they don’t have a voice and give them just that, to give them the platform and megaphone to share who they are, what they aspire to do and be, and how they ended up where they are today. I believe a story has the power to change a life.
When did you know you were being called to do this?
Ahhh, yes, the ever present “calling”. It was Spring of this year when I started to feel a shift in my heart, that my comfort of my hometown and church friends and family started feeling a little too snug. I was becoming too comfortable. I didn’t go to college, so the relationships I built during and after my two years in ministry school was all I had ever known. Yet, I knew I had to be obedient to the calling, so I started casting out nets wherever available. New jobs in different states, new internships, and missions programs. The World Race was the one that stuck. Nothing about it felt awkward or uncomfortable, the whole applying process and the first initial fees flowed seamlessly. I couldn’t deny it was God.
What are you going to do when you come back? Are you coming back?!
Bah! The future! It’s scary! I honestly have no freakin’ clue. Sheesh, I just barely figured this out.
What country are you most excited to visit?
Romania. I heard a story my first year of ministry school from someone who was on South Hills staff at that time, and is still a good friend of mine. She shared her experience from her trip, saying the orphanages there were worse than we could imagine. Hundreds of abandoned children and not enough places for them to stay, and not enough workers to care for them. Because of this, babies were not touched or held. She shares when she touched the babies heads, they were swollen with water from lack of touch, a lack of love. I want to love every single child, and every single infant that I can. A single act of love could change a life.
What do your parents think about this?
Luckily for me, I have two of the most kick ass (sorry not sorry) parents on the face of planet earth. In everything I’ve done, they have supported me. They may question me, challenge me and drive me crazy, but they always support me. My mother is one of the worrisome people I have ever met, so say a little prayer for her guys. Tell her if I’m held hostage it ain’t no thang. Jk mom!
How many people are you going with? Do you know anyone else that’s going?
I’m going with roughly 80 other total strangers who I am already loving, weirdly enough. Anyone that knows me knows I don’t warm up to people fast. Yet, in mere Facebook conversations these people have captured my heart with their passion to make the world a little bit better and brighter than what they found it. I can’t WAIT to meet them in October.
What are you hoping God will reveal to you while you’re away?
At this point, I have learned so much about God in the past 3 months of fundraising than I have in my entire life. I serve a God full of surprises, so I have no idea what to expect. I’m just willing.
BAH! $500 away from my first goal on Sept 26!
My Garage Sale is on Sept 20th. Want to donate? Contact me!
