The past 23 years of my life have been extremely enjoyable as much as my life has had its hardships. Growing up, I have never truly known what I want to do with my life. If you were to ask me five years ago I would have answered with “married with kids” as well as being a stay at home mom. I wanted to be just like my mom, to stay at home while my dad worked on the ranch. I love cooking, cleaning and putting together a home. As you can probably soon tell, my life is not filled with precious chatty kids, apple pies, or a place to call my own with a handsome loving husband in it. My life is about to be on a 11 month journey to 11 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES! ah, say WHAT? yes this hairstylist who loves her simple yet diva-ish lifestyle is about to embark on 11 months with ONE pack to hold 11 months worth of clothes (I better find the biggest pack I can carry) trading in my wedges for Chacos, leaving my curling wand for that natural curl and honestly I cant wait! Growing up on a cattle ranch has its perks! You can take the girl out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the girl! Okay I am not that country but I can handle the outdoors and some dirt in my teeth.
—-trust me when I say this, I AM nervous, scared, confused, worried, joyful, positive, filled, blessed, delighted, and READY
For the first time in my life I feel accepted, content and fulfilling my purpose. I never imagined in all my 23 years of life I would be going on a trip like the World Race, but I am so happy I get to! It has not been a easy road to get here but its been worth every bump and pothole.
My story starts back in 2008, my youth group started going on mission trips while I was in high school. Not ever imagining myself going on a trip let alone to a country in Central America, I found myself finding interest in the idea of going and serving those less fortunate than myself as well as being with those from my church whom we shared the same love for God. For the first time in my life I was broken. My eyes were opened to things way beyond what they have seen before. I felt love like never before, the love from the boys at the Center we went to everyday. The smiles on their faces when we pulled up every morning, to the tears that rolled down their faces as we left. I have NO idea what God had in store for me after that trip to Nicaragua…
I went back again the next year, with the same group to the same Center and much to my surprise, I saw the same boys from the year before, the boys I became so close to and who impacted my heart so much. God worked in me the same and even more so that year. As I arrived home after the second trip I didn’t feel complete, if anything I felt lost. I didn’t feel like I fit in with my group of friends from school anymore. I didn’t have any desire for school or anything else, I would catch myself every time I sat at a computer searching for any information about the Center and the boys. I even looked at other trips to go on but I was in high school so the dream of going on more trips went away as I was held to the idea I should be researching colleges and future plans instead. After I graduated high school in 2010 I went to college but never finished my first semester, college just wasn’t for me. I started going down a very unhealthy path, it lead to destruction in my life. Ill leave out the details but lets just say I wasn’t living the life God wanted for me, BUT God was with me through it all! If I never would have went through all the struggles I went through, I would not be the person I am today. I’m thankful I have a loving and merciful God who has never given up on me! I gave up on myself but God picked me up in my lowest times and literally put me back together. Don’t you love how Awesome our God is!
I have been a Hairstylist for almost two years now, working in Yukon. One day God did something so miraculous it has completely changed my life. I had a phone call at the salon, it was a lady needing two haircuts for her boys, I had time on Tuesday so we scheduled it for then. The day came and I went into work like normal, having no idea what was about to happen. The lady and her boys came into the salon, the older boy (16) went straight to the couch, I only got a glimpse of him, I took his younger brother (10) back to my chair. I could tell these boys were adopted, all the sudden I started getting flashes of my trip in Nicaragua and this strange energy inside me. I kept thinking of one boy named Francisco because he had the same beautiful bright red hair as the 16 year old boy who went straight to the couch. As I finished the first boys cut I go and grab his older brother. I walk up and ask if he is ready, he looks at me and gives me a smile and nod, my heart dropped! I took him to my chair and eventually ask him his name, he replied with Francisco. I started FREAKING OUT inside but I kept my emotions to myself until after I finished his hair. I asked his mom to follow me to the back, the moment we were alone I exploded with the water works, I tried my best to come up with the words to say to her, I finally just said “I know them” ” I’ve been to their Center” she had no idea what was going on until I showed her a picture of me and Francisco I had in a album from my Facebook, she was at a loss of words as well. I showed Francisco and he remembered me and embraced me with the biggest hug. Francisco was one of the boys that stood out to me at the center, I even wrote about him in my journal the very first day of the first year that I went to Nicaragua as well as almost every other day both years, crazy right, I prayed for the boys almost every night. There’s no way in the world other than by God that can something like this could be pulled off. The power of prayer is REAL. This was in March 2015.
Francisco and I went to Panama with Global Expeditions this past summer. It was an amazing experience to be able to go on a trip with him and see him pour God’s love out onto those from the villages we spent time in. During the trip God really moved in me, I knew I needed to completely give my life away for him. God spoke to me in Panama, everything in my past that I couldn’t make sense of was for the best, my plan and my purpose from him was revealed. I cant even describe all the God moments I have experienced that have lead me to the World Race, there are so many moments and still to this day I am seeing God move in me. I knew when I got back from Panama I wasn’t going to stay home for long, my heart wasn’t here. God lead me to the World Race before my trip to Panama through instagram and again after I got back. For the first time I had no doubts and quickly signed up. After a lot of prayer and “Me and God” time I knew the decision to sign up was right and I finally was accepted this past week and I leave the first week of January! I’m so excited to see what God has in store for me and my squad.
—forgetting what is lies behind and STRAINING forward to what lies ahead. I PRESS ON toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
// PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14
Francisco and I circa 2009
