When my Father passed on to heaven when I was 21 years old, I quit my Junior year of college at APU, moved back in with my family, and within hours began my new life; A life that was forever changed. Overnight, I painfully said goodbye to my boyhood, and was required to say hello to a stranger, Noe the man. In the next 3 years, 7 other people in my life passed away.
My grief was deep, my heart was torn.
Then at age 27, six years later, walking down the street in Venice, California at night – I looked to the black sky and saw a plane taking off from LAX. My cheeks were cold, and made colder by the two streams of tears rolling down to my chin. I realized – I was insecure, I felt inadequate. I had grown up as a man that knew how to pay bills, have a good corporate job, teach Sunday school, and be a responsible citizen. The past six years of my life had forced me to.
But something was missing. Something deep and necessary.
As I saw that plane fly over what seemed like my small little life on the street that night, I said quietly through my pain, “God, I would leave this all if you would choose to use my life in the nations.” My heart was yearning for more. A more that I knew I had to find.
Six months later, my wish was granted, and my life would be changed.
Three of those years was with the World Race in different nations, with thousands of participants and residents around the world, and the other three were in Guatemala starting a long-term base.
From living in mud huts and tin roofed houses, to eating tons of rice and drinking unclean water. From lying in hospitals sick, to praying for healing for the sick and dying; Lives were changed, Christ was accepted, dreams were made alive, and hope was spread.
As hard as this is to do, my past 6-year journey with Adventures in Missions & The World Race has come to an end.
It has been a deeply meaningful and personal experience. I received what I was looking for, deep in my bones, and was able to translate this into loving, serving, and leading those around me.
I would like to specifically thank Seth Barnes.
To give you a glimpse into his heart…the first real conversation I had with him was on the beautiful countryside in Ireland, nine months into my time with AIM. We sat on the grass and the first words out of Seth’s mouth was this: “So, tell me about you, your family.” I was not expecting this from the President/CEO. I thought we would talk numbers, job performance (I was leading 50 people at that point), or strengths or weaknesses, but instead he asked me about my heart. He fathered me in that moment. He cared. He listened. He was genuine.
Thank you, Seth. I know we’ll be friends and workers for God’s kingdom together in new ways, for many years to come. You have helped to profoundly launch my life into the more that I knew I had and wanted.
ONE FINAL ASK:
What missionary blog wouldn’t be complete without asking for money?!
As much as I really don’t like this part of things, I’ve come to learn the beauty in letting God provide.
I am short $800 of my needs to finish out 2015, to end Dec. 31st with a zero balance with Adventures In Missions. (If you’ve already given – you guys are the best! Seriously, each of you, it’s money well invested!)
If you genuinely believe in my life, what God has done, and will keep doing, would you pray and ask God if you’re to join me in finishing out this chapter of my life?
Thank you so much! You can donate through the link on this page, or message me.
A VIDEO:
Here is a video that I made for you. To say THANK YOU…to you, to God, and to recap the past 6 years of my life. Video credit: Katie Allen. Antigua, Guatemala (Thank you, Katie!)
NEW BLOG:
If you receive my current blog updates, you will soon be receiving updates from my new blog/website. If you choose to unsubscribe, there will be that option on the new blog/website.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE NEW BLOG/WEBSITE!
Exciting things ahead!
