People had a lot of questions when I left for the Race. “Will you be safe? Where are you going? How will you pay for it?” And I had answers to almost all of them. “I’ll be as safe as I can be. I’m going to this continent and that country. God will provide the funds.”
But the one question I didn’t have an answer for was, “What will you do when it’s over?” And I was fine with not knowing. I was pretty sure I wouldn’t have an answer to that question until the Race was almost over because I needed to learn to be present and engaged in what was in front of me instead of dreaming of what was to come. And even though God laid something on my heart in Month Two in Costa Rica, it wasn’t until a month ago in Botswana I finally made a commitment.
So with only one week left on the Race, I’m going to share where I’m heading next and why.
I get home July 26th and then this October I’ll head off to intern at G42 Leadership Academy in Mijas, Spain.
The internship is six months long, but I don’t know if I’ll come home right after. I might, I might not. Much like my attitude with the Race, I’ll decide when it’s nearing the end of my time there. I have a passion for the nations, so I’m really open to living almost anywhere in the world.
G42 is an amazing place and there are so many reasons I want to go, but I’ll just share a few of them with you now to explain why I chose to do this for the next season of my life.
1) I want to be mentored to be a mentor.
I’ve never been discipled or mentored by someone before and I want to be. Jesus mentored his disciples for three years before sending them off to do their own ministry and I want to follow in those footsteps. The World Race is a great start, but now it’s time to surround myself with the people I want to be like for a season, to learn from them and be mentored by them. At the same time, I one day would like to disciple others and at this moment have no idea how to do so. I want to be poured into by others so I can pour out.
2) I want to learn more about my identity.
This year has changed me, my perception of who I am, who God is and who I am in him. Now I want to grow even more into my identity in Christ and into relationship with him. G42 focuses a lot on who we are as children of God, the authority we have and what to do with the knowledge. They want to grow us into people who are ready to go out and create change.
3) I want to learn how to use my passions to start my own Kingdom-centered business or ministry.
My biggest passion is to bring the church to people. The church isn’t a building we go to on Sunday morning, it’s US! My dream is to one day open up my own coffee shop where I can be the hands and feet of Jesus to whoever walks through the door. And also at the same time making it a place where people can come and feel accepted and loved for who they are. My dream is to put all of this together into my own business/ministry, but have no idea where to start. G42 is full of leaders who have started their own organizations and are waiting to help teach and inspire us to do the same. At the end of the six months they send us out into the nations to do our thing with a real plan and a network of support behind us.
4) I want to live in community and invest in a place.
I love living in community. It’s been the hardest and greatest part of the Race. At G42 all the interns live and eat and go to class together for the entire program. I also love that the internship is six months in one place, one city. I’m eager to invest in Mijas and its people and its culture instead of jumping around every few weeks like I have for the past year.
The most difficult part of deciding to go do this internship is that it means I have to fundraise again. God was so faithful to provide during the Race, but having to ask for help again is hard for me. The program costs $6,300USD and covers tuition, food and lodging for the whole time I’m there. I also will have to raise $3,500. for flight and personal expenses. In total, I would like to raise $10,000. The Lord reminded me lately this isn’t about me and told me to get over myself and ask for help, so here are some ways you can support me!
1) Prayer
Prayer is huge for me! I know the power in it and would love to know there are people behind me praying for me in this next season just like the last. Prayer for safety, finances, boldness, vision, deeper relationship with people and God, anything and everything needs prayer.
2) Jobs
I’m only home for eight weeks, so getting an actual job is a bit unrealistic. However, I’ll have a ton of free time and would love to help people in any way I can for a donation. Whether it’s babysitting, gardening, or working around the house, I can help and you can feel free to donate whatever you wish to my fundraising account or me.
3) Financially
Fundraising makes me nervous, but I know God provides. I have a huge desire to use these six months as a place to put together a solid plan for my future ministry and would appreciate any help financially to get there. If you feel led to donate, you can use G42’s online PayPal portal here:
www.g42leadershipacademy.org/donate
Click on One-Time Donation. You’ll see a heading for Leadership Academy Intern and in the section that says Appealed By just put Nicole Smith and it will get to me. You can also send a check to the school at the address listed on the donation page.
I’m home soon and would love to talk to anyone about the internship and what’s next for me in more detail. If you have questions, please ask them. You can email me at [email protected] or wait for me to get home and we can grab coffee!
If you want more information about the internship in general, here is a link to the website: www.g42leadershipacademy.org.
Love yall,
Nicole
