Mom and I in Banff two summers ago
“There is something on my heart… telling me you should not go in January”
If you had asked me three months ago what I would be doing in February, I would have told you with a smiling face: “In Peru, living with my fellow P-Squad members.” (On an 11-month missions trip to 11 different countries, across 3-continents) Yes. My flight was booked for training camp, I had asked my boss for the week off work. I had even gotten all of my vaccinations, and all my gear purchased! My bag was packed, I was ready to go – at least physically.
On October 19th with one day until take-off for training camp, my mom phoned me at work: “Manny,” – her nickname for me- “You know how much I have supported you in your preparation for this trip…” This could not be more true, I seriously don’t know what I would have done without my mom, and I am so thankful for her organizational skills. At first when I told my mom about the World Race, she truthfully didn’t want me to go. I could hardly blame her, I was basically saying: “Hey mom, I’m going around the world, 11-countries, oh yeah, and we will need to find a tent for me to sleep in” After doing more research, the two of us, and the rest of my family, prayerfully came alongside each other to make the decision for me to apply for the World Race.
After I had got acceptance phone-call onto the race, my mom went into full mother mode. She wanted to make sure she did everything her motherly-power to ensure I was fully prepared. This included finding me a travel doctor, passport office, coming with me to ALL the camping stores, she even made an excel file with the temperatures in all 11 countries during the months my team would be there (which was then shared on Facebook with my sqaud). Needless to say I am VERY thankful for my mom. Now that you know a little bit about my preparation background, I’ll tell you about the rest of this phone call: “Manny, the World Health Organization just released some more information on Ebola*. But its not just that – there is something on my heart Manny, telling me you should not go in January. I’m not saying don’t go, just don’t go in January”. And there it was. Just great. In that moment I knew. It was as if God Himself had been on the phone calling me with my mom, the message was loud and clear from both parties. Usually, when God gives me so much clarity, I am thankful… But this time (even though I was obedient), it was pretty hard to be thankful.
Everything came out in my prayers: “But God… I am all ready, I have gotten to know my team on Facebook, I want to meet them in person! I even bought orange things for our ‘Squad Wars’ at training camp! I want to be in the Peru, Bolivia, and Chile in the New Year instead of the Canadian cold winter!” Then I stopped. Who had I become? I got so wrapped up in selfish preparations, I forgot about who this trip was really about. Jesus. Had I not been called by Him in the summer to apply for the World Race? Had it not been God who had allowed my family and I to prayerfully come along side one another to make the final decision for me to go? As much of an exhortation as it was, I realized I needed to graciously accept the sudden change of plans.
So, I cancelled my flight, emailed my boss that I wouldn’t need the week off work, and phoned my Mobilizer from the World Race to explain.
So what next? I realized I needed to start looking at the positives:
“When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.”
– hymnist Horatio Spafford
1. Find a new route that was leaving in July or September
Obviously, this was the first thing I did (lol).
I am the type of person who does not really ponder on the decisions I make. (Other than in a grocery store – then I am the most indecisive person you will ever meet). Not going to lie, this can be a blessing or a hinderance, and it has bitten me in the butt on more than one occasion. I came across September Route 1: The ‘Asian Route’. Thisroute just clicked:) Prayed about it…This route just clicked:) I prayed some more, talked to my family, and phoned the World Race to transfer my registration. Yay!
2. Graciously accept the time at home
Especially with my family, friends, and of course…my horse. As well as take a more active role in with the youth ministry at my church. When I cancelled my trip I was about 2 months away from saying goodbye to everyone for almost a year. More than ever I realized how important it was to make the most of every moment with EVERYONE. Sounds like a lot right? Well now I have a whole 11 months to do so!
3. Be open to change
Truthfully, this one has been so difficult and so freeing. At first I was like: “God, seriously, I am ready to go NOW”. How smitten I was with myself. I guess you never will really know if you are ready or not, and I don’t think there is anyway for anyone to say the are 100% ready. However, by the grace of God, I have learned so much about myself and my relationship with Him in these past months. Old habits I never thought I could break have passed, relationships with my friends have become stronger than ever, and I have even made some new friendships. Plus, the Young Adult ministry is blooming at my church!
So, so many great things:)
All in all, I am just a thankful Canadian girl who gets to spend another 7 and a half awesome months with my friends and family, before I go on the missions trip of a life time. I have ALOT to be thankful for!
* P.S. The countries my squad was going to (or any of the countries the World Race is going to in Africa) are no where near West-Africa, and far-away, far-away from the virus. My family and I also truly respect and trust the World-Race’s attentiveness to safety regarding viruses and diseases.
