“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s plan that prevails” Proverbs 19:21
God has been teaching me this past week just how true those words are!
As many of you know, I had been planning on participating in the World Race January 2015 Route 4. For a few weeks now, I have been feeling a lack of peace regarding the World Race. I knew I was supposed to go, but something felt slightly off. When I told people the countries I was going to, there was almost a whisper in my head saying “but not really. I’m not really going here.” It didn’t feel real or tangible.
Every time I prayed about these unsettling feelings, I was afraid that God was going to say “Just kidding you aren’t supposed to go on the race, even though you have countless supporters, all of your gear, and have been emotionally preparing to serve me in this way for months.”
He quickly hushed that voice and told me that He wasn’t trying to trick me
Each time I prayed about the lack of peace, I felt confirmation that the Lord wanted me on the race. I felt Him so clearly tell me that I needed to trust him and that we would cross that bridge when we got there. That he would tell me when to move.
I hated this, obviously. I love to be in control of everything. I may be easy going, but if I’m moving out of the country in 3 months, I like for it to be set in stone. I like for there to be a plan (my plan. Aka Route 4).
When I chose route 4, I didn’t think I was being selfish. I love new places. Countless countries on Route 4, like Peru, Chile and Nepal, were on my bucket list of countries I’ve always wanted to explore. I figured it was killing two birds with one stone…serve God…go to cool countries. While I liked Route 3, I’d already been to two of the countries, and wanted to explore even more of the world.
As the lack of peace built in me, I asked God to make it clear to me what he wanted me to do. The VERY next day, I woke up to an email from my mobilizer saying that she needed 9 ladies on Route 4 to transfer to another route. One of these routes was Route 3. I immediately felt a rush of peace. Even though I was initially much more thrilled about the Route 4 countries, I felt uncontainable excitement. I literally couldn’t even sleep.
God continued to give me confidence that Route 3 was for me. Each time I doubted, or wanted to cling to attachments I’d already formed for the people and countries of Route 4, he showed me again why the change was necessary. He reminded me, for instance, that the very first time I felt called to missions, he put Nicaragua on my heart. Through Godly council (my mom) and his word, he taught me that, while my thirst for all things new and exciting can be a blessing, my deep heart for Latin America has a chance to be strengthened through Route 3, and that is a blessing as well. I am SO excited to announce that the Lord has spoken so clearly and so directly has placed me on WR Jan 2015 O SQUAD!
My new route is as follows:
The Dominican Republic
Haiti
Costa Rica
Nicaragua
Guatemala
Thailand
Malaysia
Philippines
Swaziland
Botswana
South Africa
I would love your prayers as I build new relationships, and try to minimize my expectations. God has already shattered and rebuilt my heart toward this trip, and I know he will continue to!
