Currently, I’m a social work undergrad student at Auburn University and will be graduating in May! I’m so excited to step into a new chapter in my life but I’ll also miss Auburn and the friends I’ve made here so much.
I’ve known for a while that I wanted to get my Masters of Social Work degree soon after graduating. So, last fall I started looking at different MSW programs. I looked into Auburn’s new program, but I found myself drawn to the idea of attending Boston University. I had just recently gone to Boston with my family over summer break, and had loved the city.
So, I applied to both Auburn and BU in January. People kept asking me which school was my top choice and for a while I went back and forth. However, the more I prayed about it, the more I felt like the Lord was calling me to Boston. I can’t explain it, but I physically felt like the Lord was pushing me to Boston. I knew it would be a big step, going to a huge city where I don’t know anybody, but I was excited for what I felt like the Lord was leading me to.
I eventually got my letter from BU and was heartbroken when I read the first line of rejection. I was so confused. I had so strongly felt the Lord calling me to BU. What had I misinterpreted from God? I called my mom and told her the bad news. After talking she said that I could reapply next year and maybe take a year off and do something called the World Race.At first, I thought she said The Amazing Race, a TV show, and through my tears I told her that I didn’t think now was the time to be applying to reality TV shows! She clarified that it was a long-term mission trip organization.
At that time, I really didn’t want to look into other options, I was too upset. However, I learned a very important life lesson from this. Always read the entire letter. It turns out, I had been accepted to BU, but for the Fall 2019 program, a whole year after I had intended. I’ve always been told that God rarely answers prayers with a simple “yes”, it’s usually “I have something better” or a “not yet”. It seems that this is what He’s done.
I’ve heard people say often that the Lord works in mysterious ways, and its so crazy how much I’m seeing this now. In my planner there’s a place to write a verse for each week of the year. Back in January I wrote out 3 months of verses, having no idea when I would hear back from BU. The verse for the week I heard was this…
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isiah 41:10.
So, now I had a year with no plan. I took my mom’s suggestion and started looking into mission trips. I researched many, but I kept coming back to the World Race. I really liked how they show people God’s love through their actions and works and was intrigued by all of the possible projects that could be done in so many places. I also liked that I would be traveling with the same group of people though-out the experience.
So, I applied to the World Race. I wanted to be a part of something that not only served God, but made me more confident in my relationship with Him, and more confident in myself. And I am so excited to say that I was accepted into their program and will be going to 11 different countries in 11 months and will be leaving in August! I will be going to Chile, Peru, Colombia, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. These past weeks have been crazy but I feel so strongly that this was God’s plan for me all along.
I am currently trying to get everything ready to leave in a few short months. I’m looking up packing lists, my mom is freaking out going to every hiking/outdoor store in Raleigh looking at backpacks, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around what has happened and this next step the Lord has lead me to.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my first ever blog post! I will continue to post before I leave and much more once I’m out in the field doing the Lord’s work! If you have the capacity to give, I would so appreciate any donations that will help me be able to go out and serve the people through God. Just click the donate button at the top of my blog page! I also appreciate your prayers during this time! I will be pushed wayyyy out of my comfort zone and will be doing things I never thought I would. Me and my team could use all the prayers we can get!
If you have any questions about what I’ll be doing or another way you can help, please feel free to email me at [email protected].
Go into the world and preach the gospel to all creation. -Mark 16:15
