I didn’t really know what to expect as I was landing on the tarmac. I could smell the rubber meeting the road, literally and figuratively. Pure, American soil. The last year, I didn’t really know how I would react in this moment. It was so hard to predict, after such an unpredictable year. My first emotion actually surprised me: I was excited!
That was quickly snuffed after being detained at the airport for suspiciously coming into America on a one-way ticket from a country that is known to fund terrorists. But after a few hours, I was free to go and I was excited again.
A lot of people seem to ask if I am nervous and scared about returning to the United States without anything. “You sold your car, you don’t have an apartment, no job…are you nervous?”. Actually, no. Well, yes. I am nervous, but not because I don’t know what’s next. I’m nervous because I know that I need to step into obedience of something that God is asking me to do.
The last few months of the World Race, God was asking me to be uncomfortable. He was asking me to step out of my comfort zone, and to live more radically for Him. “Sure”, I said, “No problem. Which country?”.
America.
Seriously? When I really began to think, it makes sense. For years now, I have been going on mission to so many different countries all over the world. It’s become normal for me. It’s comfortable. What’s more uncomfortable is for me to stay still, at home. So, that’s what God is challenging me to do…stay home. I know that God wants me in ministry and missions, so how does that fit into staying at home? That’s the question I asked right before I received an e-mail from someone at Adventures in Missions. After multiple e-mails, Skype conversations, prayer, doubt, affirmation, and sleepless nights, I’ve accepted a position as the Regional Director of Africa for Adventures in Missions/The World Race. I’ll be living in Georgia.
While I am so used to actually being on the mission field all the time, this position will enable future World Race missionaries to be successful in their ministry on the field. I will also be responsible for finding and cultivating relationships with new ministries all over the world, to send future missionary teams to them to help them build their ministry and reach their community. I’ve done so many short-term missions, that I have really been craving for an opportunity to fully invest into a ministry long-term. This is it! I’m in it for the long-haul.
This has turned out to be a job that the Lord has really given me a heart for. I’m so excited to be a support tool for people who have a desire to go and serve the Lord in the world.
Much like any ministry and missions-focused, position, I do have to raise a portion of my salary. I need to raise $1,000 a month, so I am needing people to support me on a monthly-basis. That’s a big number, but I’m so glad that our God doesn’t look at the numbers. When preparing to write this, I started to think of the best and clever way to ask for support. Instead, I’m just going to ask you to put the pressure on the Lord. Ask Him if this is something He wants you to do, and be open to His answer. You can message me with questions or support me by finding links on the left of this page.
My World Race journey has come to an end, but as far as the Lord is concerned, this is just the beginning of a life completely full of Him, and lives changed.
