Speechlessness. That has been my response as of lately with how God has been blowing my mind. With random bursts of joy in between!!! I sometimes wonder if this is just one long incredible dream that I am going to wake up from, but then I have the little ache from the shots I got yesterday and I realize this is NO dream. This is really happening.
This summer has been one of transformation for me as God has been preparing me for something huge in my life. Since the middle of Fall 2011 God started to place Africa on my heart. At the time it was simply a word said to me that my best friend (Sarah) mentioned, as I went on and on about India, she said she pictured me in Africa. It quieted me for awhile and really got me looking to God for guidance in what HE wanted. Though India was still at the forefront of my mind, Africa was right there sneaking up on me. That Christmas break, almost every TV show I came across was centered on different parts of Africa and it really started sinking in that God was not going to let me dismiss this as a coincidence. I ended up spending a weekend at my friend, Allyson's, house and she brought up the mission trip to Africa that Cayla was going to be leading. It sparked an interest in me and while with Allyson I ended up texting Cayla that I was interested and feeling called to go.
Spring 2012 I ordered my textbooks online and when I received my one textbook, the receipt just so happened to be placed in a page about Kenya and completely caught my attention off guard. I knew it was a sign from God, especially considering the team Cayla would be leading was going to Mombassa, Kenya.
Fast forward to this summer and at Vacation Bible School I volunteered for the second grade class room. On the second day, I noticed there was a poster of Africa and was nearly positive it was no coincidence being the only poster of a continent by itself. I started to dismiss it before I checked my e-mail that evening and found out that we would be teaching Vacation Bible School. Now that completely stopped in my tracks and I just knew it was a sign from God.
As the date of departure was quickly approaching and funds were not increasing very quickly, I started to wonder if it truly was God's will for me to go. My dad even noticed this change in me because He pointed it out to me one night! Nonetheless, I was still determined to go through with the garage sale I had posted about for this past Saturday to just see what would happen.
The garage sale had a steady flow of people with some buying little things here and there. As it appeared to be coming to a close being out there for about 9-10 hours...I decided to pray. Shortly before I had prayed there was a God-sent lady that came up saying how she wanted a cabinet we had for sale, but had not gotten a chance to talk with her husband so she would be back in a little while. My dad briefly told her about the mission trip I was saving up for and she talked about how her husband had been on a mission trip to Africa and she left. Then I prayed, and afterwards this strong wind started to pick up (seriously out of nowhere). She came back about thirty or so minutes later, as the wind was getting even worse and we had started to put stuff up from the garage sale, and said she had talked with her husband and was going to buy the cabinet. She gave me about $10 more for it telling me to keep the change for my mission trip. After she left and we had almost everything in the garage I went inside knowing I still was a long way off from the goal and started to assume the strong wind was actually a road block God was placing in front of me. Little did I know what lay ahead....
My parents called me back into the garage and to my surprise she had come back with her husband. She introduced me to him and asked me how much I was still lacking for my mission trip. I knew I had a ways so I said, "At least $1,000". Right in front of me, he wrote a check for $1,000 and left me completely speechless. They explained how they had just had their 21st anniversary being married and how they had been praying about someone to help go on a mission trip because of how much God had blessed them. My parents were in tears and I was really just at a loss of words...And now I am completely convinced it is in God's will for me to go to Kenya. God has continued to blow my mind with how I was able to get two of the three shots I still need yesterday completely free of charge! The place I ended up going to had a show on about Africa in the waiting room and right before checking out I saw a plaque of how they supported God-given missions. So amazing!!! The yellow fever shot was back order though, so I am still trying to get that taken care of.
As far as where I stand...I ONLY need $445.24 (if I added correctly)!!!! So exciting and with God blowing my mind so much lately...I just KNOW He will provide and my focus just needs to be primarily on Him working on my heart.
As the date of departure was quickly approaching and funds were not increasing very quickly, I started to wonder if it truly was God's will for me to go. My dad even noticed this change in me because He pointed it out to me one night! Nonetheless, I was still determined to go through with the garage sale I had posted about for this past Saturday to just see what would happen.
The garage sale had a steady flow of people with some buying little things here and there. As it appeared to be coming to a close being out there for about 9-10 hours...I decided to pray. Shortly before I had prayed there was a God-sent lady that came up saying how she wanted a cabinet we had for sale, but had not gotten a chance to talk with her husband so she would be back in a little while. My dad briefly told her about the mission trip I was saving up for and she talked about how her husband had been on a mission trip to Africa and she left. Then I prayed, and afterwards this strong wind started to pick up (seriously out of nowhere). She came back about thirty or so minutes later, as the wind was getting even worse and we had started to put stuff up from the garage sale, and said she had talked with her husband and was going to buy the cabinet. She gave me about $10 more for it telling me to keep the change for my mission trip. After she left and we had almost everything in the garage I went inside knowing I still was a long way off from the goal and started to assume the strong wind was actually a road block God was placing in front of me. Little did I know what lay ahead....
My parents called me back into the garage and to my surprise she had come back with her husband. She introduced me to him and asked me how much I was still lacking for my mission trip. I knew I had a ways so I said, "At least $1,000". Right in front of me, he wrote a check for $1,000 and left me completely speechless. They explained how they had just had their 21st anniversary being married and how they had been praying about someone to help go on a mission trip because of how much God had blessed them. My parents were in tears and I was really just at a loss of words...And now I am completely convinced it is in God's will for me to go to Kenya. God has continued to blow my mind with how I was able to get two of the three shots I still need yesterday completely free of charge! The place I ended up going to had a show on about Africa in the waiting room and right before checking out I saw a plaque of how they supported God-given missions. So amazing!!! The yellow fever shot was back order though, so I am still trying to get that taken care of.
As far as where I stand...I ONLY need $445.24 (if I added correctly)!!!! So exciting and with God blowing my mind so much lately...I just KNOW He will provide and my focus just needs to be primarily on Him working on my heart.
"I lie awake thinking of You, meditating on You through the night. Because You are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings. I cling to You; Your strong right hand holds me securely."~Psalm 63:6-8 (NLT)
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