As a college student and emerging young professional, I am constantly bombarded with questions like, “What are you doing after you graduate?” or “What is your plan for the future?” They are very broad questions that can easily be glossed over with a simple answer that isn’t tough to swallow. And the culturally normal thing to respond goes something along the lines of joyfully saying you’re going to find a job, move into a place of your own, pursue a career in what you studied, and settle down into “adult life”.
But that is not the case for me. I will not be moving to a big city to find a job to start climbing the corporate ladder, finding an apartment on my own, buying a car, or settling down by any means. In fact, I am doing the opposite, and it’s not normal. It’s not what culture asks of us. It is not living up to the standards set for young adults recently graduated.
Two months after I graduate college I will be leaving all the comforts America has to offer to go travel the globe for 11 months. I will be leaving all my family and friends, sleeping in a tent, and living out of a backpack.
Why though? Don’t I want to start a career and make the big bucks? Move to a city I have always wanted to?
It doesn’t make sense and it’s not comfortable because following Jesus doesn’t always make a lot of sense and it certainty is not a comfortable decision. When I gave my life to Jesus, it no longer was about me me me.
Many times over, I have seen God’s faithfulness in my life showing me how much better His plan is than mine. Because He knows! He knows the most intimate parts of our heart (Luke 16:15) far better than we know ours.
My heart has always broken for the pains of this world. Growing up and all through my life I have spent hours thinking, researching, learning, and trying to understand the reasons why all these things happen and what I can do to help these world issues. I have always come up with bold ideas and dreams to go fly across seas to start an orphanage, teach English to kids, rescue women from sex trafficking, or reach families living in the slums of a trash mountain.
One night in my second year of college, a good friend of mine told me about her life altering experience through the World Race. Ever since she told me about this, I knew that is what I wanted to do when I graduated college. Now I COULD fly across seas to help in an orphanage, teach English to kids, rescue women from sex trafficking, and reach families living in the slums of a trash mountain.
So for two years I fervently prayed to see with clear eyes what God wanted for my life. And the whole way I got yeses. And those yeses eventually lead me to apply once the route I would go on opened, those yeses faithfully carried me through the application and interview and ultimately brought me to where I am today. Sitting here, writing to y’all, accepted, eager, and more than ever ready to serve.
This journey doesn’t make sense. Fundraising nearly $20,000 to go to untouched depths of this earth isn’t necessarily the most logical thing to do after you graduate college. But it’s not my story to write. I am merely a pencil in the hands of the Creator that has beautifully written a plan for me. And I patiently wait to be used for His kingdom and His glory. On earth as it is in heaven.
So here’s to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina!
Thank you for following me along on this journey and taking time to read this blog. I will continue to update you on my journey and more news about my upcoming trip. I ask that you continue to pray for me as I prepare to leave and to help me financially by donating so I am able to go. As always, your support means more to me than you could ever imagine. Stay tuned!
