Over the past year I’ve seen and tasted a different way of life; I’ve seen what it looks like to live a life on mission. A life where my perspective has shifted from being successful in the world’s eyes by getting a great career and having a comfortable life to being successful for the kingdom by living a life completely dedicated to building up the body of Christ.
I want to get one thing clear before I continue; going overseas and becoming a missionary for 11 months didn’t bring this shift in perspective. God did. All credit goes to Jesus. And you don’t have to go on a mission trip overseas to come to this realization like I have.
I’ve always been a planner. If you’ve known me for the past 6 years or have read one of my past blogs, you know PT has been my biggest dream. I’ve had my life planned for years now, yet God chose to ask me to put PT on pause and leave what was comfortable to meet him somewhere where my full attention would have to be on him.
God took me to sunrises in India where I could hear birds welcoming in a new day and new promises God was planting in my life. He took me to the Himalayas in Nepal to show me how truly beautiful this life is. God took me to 360+ orphans in Vietnam to show me that He does indeed know each one of us by name and though we might feel forgotten, God knows us by name and loves us. He took me to Cambodia where I met my breaking point in the sweltering heat surrounded by cockroaches and I had no where to go but His arms for comfort and peace. He called me to Thailand where I got to take the next step in my journey and transition into leading a larger group of people and learning that to be a good leader, you first must be a good follower. God called me to a tiny town in Albania to teach me how to share my faith with old men on park benches. He took me to Greece to learn that no one is homeless in the kingdom of God, not even men and women who are no longer free to live in their own countries. God brought me to one of the poorest towns in Bulgaria to meet poverty and mental sickness head on and learn the power of sharing the gospel, and that our battles are fought by Jesus and victory is claimed in his name. God took me to Zimbabwe to learn how to get on my hands and knees and fervently pray for the people in my life because there is nothing I can do apart from surrendering my requests to Jesus. He took me to Swaziland where I got to hold beaten babes and show them Christ’s love through opening my arms and allowing them to comes as they are. And finally, He has brought me to South Africa where I begin the end of an 11 month journey of becoming less of Michelle Cupp and more of Jesus Christ.
God has taken me to great places this year. He has shown me his heart for his people and has given me hope when my heart was aching for the brokenness in my own life and the lives around me. He has revealed the beauty in the wonders of creation, and he has provided abundant joy as I lived out 11 months of uncomfortablity. It took God placing my plans on hold for me to truly taste his faithfulness and goodness. It took me saying yes to a year abroad to lose my life to truly gain the life I’ve been longing for: a life lived for the kingdom.
As I prepare to come home soon my perspective on life has changed. I see the world as a mission field and want to live my life on mission. Does this mean I’m moving overseas? Not necessarily. It means that I’m going to be intentional with the people God places in my life, the places he calls me to, and the provision he provides.
And as God faithfully called myself and so many others to the World Race this past January, He is calling hundreds more to leave this January to embark on their 11 month kingdom journey. Many more men and women get to experience God around the world and experience growth in their walk with Christ just like I have over these past 11 months. And the coolest part about it is that I get to walk alongside many of these new racers while they begin their kingdom journey with God.
With much prayer and wrestling with the Lord, God has called me back out to 5 more months of the race.
Come January I will launch again as an alumni squad leader with a squad of 32. God has called me back out onto the field to pour into a new group of kingdom bringers and to disciple them as they live out this epic journey God has called them to. I will be back on the field from January until the end of May. I will be traveling to
Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar
God is giving me the opportunity to see more of His world and people. It’s pretty crazy to be sharing this with all of you, but I’m excited for what God has up his sleeve for this next season. It’s a beautiful feeling to know you are exactly where you’re supposed to be.
From the bottom of my heart, I want to say THANK YOU EVERYONE for supporting me through out this crazy awesome kingdom journey. It’s through your faithful prayers, support, and love that I’ve been able to live the life God has called me to over these past 11 months.
Have any questions? PLEASE ask away! There’s more details to alumni squad leading and I’ll share them in a later blog.
Love you all!
Until Next Time,
Michelle
On Top of Table Mountain in Capetown. At the beginning of the race I was hoping that I would be able to visit here at the end and God provided! Beyond blessed by all of the adventures God has taken me on over these past 11 months!
