This is one of those questions that I can either answer very simply, or elaborately. The simple and rather typical answer is because, well, that’s what God told me to do. Although that is true, there’s a bit of a back story (:
On my race, one of my squad leaders went to CGA. And even though she had great things to say about it, I found myself immediately thinking “that’s just not for me.” Now that I think about it, many things that I think that about end up being something God calls me to do. Personally, I think it’s an awesome example of how God has a great sense of humor. And I’d also like to think I give him a good laugh now and then. CGA was brought up again after my race at project searchlight, and I still showed little interest. If we are being completely honest, I thought it was kind of pointless. Why would I stay in the states and pay/ fundraise for an apprenticeship, when I so desperately wanted to go back out into the field? No, if I was going to do anything radical with ministry that involved leaving my home in Texas, it would be going to another country to serve (at least that’s what I told myself). And I knew I probably wouldn’t get much support from family, and I kind of just shut it out as an option without really giving it any more thought.
That was this past summer of 2015, and I ended up enrolling in college for the fall semester. I knew that God had put me in a season of waiting there, so I was content with where I was. But I still had that itch. That yearn for more in life- the intense desire to pursue my passions and all the things he calls me to. I knew I was where I was supposed to be for the fall, but the spring semester was a bit of a wild card.
My last country on my race was Nicaragua. I loved that country. The people, the culture, the heat, the beaches, the language- everything. My heart was captured and I was mesmerized. Every time I opened my mouth to speak Spanish, I felt the holy spirit pulse through me. The Spanish population has my heart, and I know I will return to them one day.
One thing that did grab my attention during project searchlight was an alumni program called Kingdom Journeys. It was a 6 month trip that focused on women’s ministry; another passion of mine. I couldn’t get it off my mind after searchlight, but the 6 month commitment and daunting thought of having to fundraise that much money again kept me from pursuing it any further. Finally, within my first month of school, I decided to research the January route a bit more. When I discovered the January route was the first all Spanish route, I knew I had to apply. The preferred age for that trip was mid 20s and up, and I’m only 19. But I felt a pressing from God and heard him whispering, “Just apply, and I will work through it.” And so I did.
Several weeks passed before I heard anything back. I began to make other plans and set up meetings for further college scholarships. One day I was driving to school to attend my first meeting with a representative of a university that I was considering transferring to in the fall. On the way there, I got a phone call from AIM. The actual conversation is a bit of a blur now, but I do remember the key points. I wasn’t accepted to the Kingdom Journeys trip in January, but they had an alternative offer. I could attend CGA and intern with AIM, and then possibly be sent out on the Kingdom Journeys trip in September. Boom. All my plans were changed in an instance. College was put on hold for God’s plan in my life. After taking a week to pray about it God make it immensely clear. I was to attend CGA in the missionary track for the spring semester. There is an excitement and eagerness in me that I cannot explain! He really likes to change my plans into the plans He has instead, and I am so grateful for that. I want to bring kingdom. I want to be a light in the darkest of places. I want to be a light in lukewarm places. Places where people have just forgotten how to love. Most importantly, I want to continue saying “yes” to God. Cheers to the many adventures He will take me on, so long as I continue to say “yes” to Him.
