Getting to this point in the process has been a long journey for me. I would say it began years ago when I went on my first misssion trip to Brazil in 2003. That trip was the first of four to that incredible country and began my desire to be involved in international missions.
Through my trips to Brazil, I developed a relationship with Steve and Liz Spellman who are Reach Gobal Missionaries to Brazil and Haiti since the earthquake in 2010.
Last year, I was in a place personally where I just wanted to go, anywhere. To get out of my daily routine and be apart of something bigger than myself. To be willing and open to what and where God called. After a conversation with Steve, he suggested that I join he and Liz in Haiti for a week and just see what they are involved in.
So in August of 2012, I flew to Haiti. I spent a week visiting Reach Global partners, sweating, exploring the town of Gressier, sweating, going on prayer walks with a visiting team from Brazil, sweating and enjoying the beauty of this county. Oh, and sweating!
I came home from that trip having left my heart in another country yet again. For the next year, I would think about this place almost daily. My prayer was (and continues to be) that God would give clarity on what my next steps should be and how this place fits into it.
As I shared my thoughts with friends many of them would say why dont you just go? I would proceed to give my list of legitimate excuses. Things that are valid but in all reality are just my reasons for not wanting to step out and do something like this. It was three days after returning from Hait that I went skydiving and parallels that I saw between jumping out of a plane and my spiritual life have been a guiding factor in getting to this point (read about that adventure HERE)
Months passed by and the desire to go back to Haiti for a more substantial amount of time only grew. I was finally at a point of being able to let go of the things that were holding me back and in August of 2013 I emailed Steve about what the possibilities of going would be. I received an application and then life happened. A death in the family, feeling empty and burnt out from my serving responsibilities at church and the excitment of a new boyfriend!!!! The application was put on the back burner but it continued to make its way to the front of my mind.
I had to remind myself that I had been thinking about and praying for this opportunity for over a year. God has given me two desires of my heart at the same time! Here were two answers to prayer and I asked God why He couldnt have spaced them out. It has been a lesson on trusting in God's goodness and a lesson in obedience.
So I finally submitted my application, a week later had my phone interview and two days after that I received my acceptance letter. My work has graciously given me a leave of absense for those 3 months. And that is where I am now! I am in the process of filling out paperwork, fundrasing and preparing my heart and mind for what will be an exciting (and challenging) adventure.
My anticipated leave date is the end of March. There is much to get done, but I am getting excited about what lies ahead.
I look foward to sharing my journey with you and ask that you pray for me during this time.
The song below has become my prayer as I prepare to leave.
OCEANS
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
No comments:
Post a Comment