Wow, friends. I honestly did not think I would be writing a part three to this post, but...dad knows best, and my dad in heaven knew better than that! (By the way, if you haven't read Parts One and Two, this would probably make a lot more sense if you did so!) But if you don't want to do that or have already read both posts and just want a quick refresher: here's a long story short...
Last February, after reading a missionary's blog post, I felt the Lord whisper something crazy and unexpected to me: "You're going a mission." I had always wanted to go on an international mission trip someday, but I didn't expect Him to call me to that until much later in my life, and so I was hesitant to accept this little nudge as something from Him, afraid it might have just been my own voice. I prayed and listened and almost applied for an international mission with the high school Ambassador program of Adventures in Missions, but I ended up deciding to go to a Christian leadership camp instead (this was for multiple reasons, which you can read about in Part One of this post!). I told myself I wouldn't completely throw away the idea of a mission and that if the Lord kept the desire to go even after the camp, I would reconsider going overseas. Honestly, I wasn't expecting Him to guide me back to the mission after the camp, but instead, my desire to go on an international mission only increased. The Lord kept pointing me to signs and whispers from Him that this was what I was meant to do. I told my parents about the calling I felt I was receiving, and they were pretty hesitant to send me to a foreign country. But with the Lord's guidance and provision of peace, they allowed me to apply. And so this brings us to now...About a month ago I began the application process, and on Thursday I received the phone call: I'm officially an Ambassadors participant and will be following Jesus to Guatemala in July of 2017!
Last February, after reading a missionary's blog post, I felt the Lord whisper something crazy and unexpected to me: "You're going a mission." I had always wanted to go on an international mission trip someday, but I didn't expect Him to call me to that until much later in my life, and so I was hesitant to accept this little nudge as something from Him, afraid it might have just been my own voice. I prayed and listened and almost applied for an international mission with the high school Ambassador program of Adventures in Missions, but I ended up deciding to go to a Christian leadership camp instead (this was for multiple reasons, which you can read about in Part One of this post!). I told myself I wouldn't completely throw away the idea of a mission and that if the Lord kept the desire to go even after the camp, I would reconsider going overseas. Honestly, I wasn't expecting Him to guide me back to the mission after the camp, but instead, my desire to go on an international mission only increased. The Lord kept pointing me to signs and whispers from Him that this was what I was meant to do. I told my parents about the calling I felt I was receiving, and they were pretty hesitant to send me to a foreign country. But with the Lord's guidance and provision of peace, they allowed me to apply. And so this brings us to now...About a month ago I began the application process, and on Thursday I received the phone call: I'm officially an Ambassadors participant and will be following Jesus to Guatemala in July of 2017!
I tell you these things not so much to focus on the event happening here. I tell you all this in hopes of encouraging you, at whatever point you are in your story. Even when the Lord turns your dreams around and takes you on many different journeys just to bring you to one place, He knows what is going to happen in the end. Even if there are tons of plot twists, He knows the end of the story. If your life is looking crazy and going in a thousand different directions, then I might say, "Good!" Because He works mighty things there. He's not finished with you yet, and His plans are bigger and greater than you could ever dream...that goes if He says yes to your dreams, and that goes if He says no and gives you something better (because He always will!). It's just your choice to choose if you're going to say YES to whatever choices He makes for you. The Lord has proven this to me through this wild but amazing little journey He's taken me on, and it is my deepest prayer He makes this truth clear in your own life.
I am still in disbelief and shock that I get to do this, that THIS is what God has called me to, and to do it now. It certainly wasn't in the plan--or rather MY plan--after all! But it was in His plan. I see that clearly now; I see how He was working from the very beginning of this dream, and so I am filled with a peace and trust unlike any other I've ever experienced before regarding a decision this big. I have never felt so confident, so assured that this is what I was meant to do, and I know that is a peace that only God can bring. Man, He is so so good!
I would so appreciate your prayers and support during this time. Please be in prayer for myself, the people of Guatemala, and the other students who will be on my team in July. If you would like to support my mission financially, you can donate via my online fundraising page, which I will post a link to as soon as it's activated.
I cannot adequately express how incredibly excited I am for this opportunity, and your support means the world to me! The Lord has blessed me abundantly to live out this dream, and I am so, so thankful.
Blessings,
Hope
I am still in disbelief and shock that I get to do this, that THIS is what God has called me to, and to do it now. It certainly wasn't in the plan--or rather MY plan--after all! But it was in His plan. I see that clearly now; I see how He was working from the very beginning of this dream, and so I am filled with a peace and trust unlike any other I've ever experienced before regarding a decision this big. I have never felt so confident, so assured that this is what I was meant to do, and I know that is a peace that only God can bring. Man, He is so so good!
I would so appreciate your prayers and support during this time. Please be in prayer for myself, the people of Guatemala, and the other students who will be on my team in July. If you would like to support my mission financially, you can donate via my online fundraising page, which I will post a link to as soon as it's activated.
I cannot adequately express how incredibly excited I am for this opportunity, and your support means the world to me! The Lord has blessed me abundantly to live out this dream, and I am so, so thankful.
Blessings,
Hope
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