I tend to need a lot of affirmation for the decisions I make. It once took me three hours to decide not to buy a three-dollar shirt from Target.
And I probably should have bought the shirt.
So, when I lost my job the day after receiving affirmation about going into the mission field for a year (I asked God to show me if that’s the direction I was supposed to be walking in and the next day at church I was told by the speaker – literally from the pulpit in front of God and everybody – that giving my life to the mission field for 11 months is what God has for me), the reality of fundraising and finances stood tall like a mountain of an obstacle and that three-dollar-Target-shirt-like doubt began creeping around my psyche.
I feel you, hedgehog. I feel you.
The confidence was still there, but I still needed a little more external affirmation. “Okay, Lord, I know you gave me confirmation last weekend, but that was before I lost my job. Could you just show me one more time that this is right? In a way that is so obvious that I know that this is Your direction for me?”
Now here’s the really cool part. Sitting on the floor of the Atlanta Airport on Saturday, waiting for my delayed flight, I see a group of travelers stop in front of me to look for their gate.
They were young, with backpacks, water bottles and….World Race T-shirts. I say hello and ask if they are Racers. They excitedly say yes and inform me that they have just completed training camp to leave in January. I tell them I’m signed up for the July route and they excitedly tell me it’s the best decision I’ve ever made (they were on a bit of a high from the camp). We talked for a while and one of them says “And try not to worry about finances. God always comes through.” Then they asked to pray for me….and I said “Sure”. We even got an old guy named Bob from the automotive industry to pray with us.
But, wait, there’s more! I said goodbye to the racers and boarded my flight. I noticed that the guy who ended up next to me on the plane was wearing a World Race bracelet. Turns out he was also a Racer, also returning from training camp. I told him how crazy cool the situation was and, after talking for a while, he handed me his bracelet to keep as a reminder.
So I guess you could say that was pretty affirming. It almost feels like I’ve smacked into a sign-post pointing me in the direction I’m going. I mean, come on, what are the chances? So I’m heading out to the mission field. I’m leaving in July. I have no idea how God is going to work it out, but I have faith that I’m called and am excited to see how this adventure unfolds!
If any of you feel lead to help support the mission financially, please click the “support me” tab on the top right section of the screen. They even have a fancy monthly support option. Otherwise, please be praying for the time leading up to the trip. I want to be super prepared mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally and everything else-ally.
Thank you so much for those that have been praying and have contributed already! Your love and support means the world to me and I am so excited to share in this adventure with you!
