Cambodia AND Detroit!

I have felt very strongly ever since I was in high school that I wanted to go on a mission. I have always said that I would be open to serving in some capacity and in some way in this country or outside this country. I know God has called us all to mission, Isaiah 6:8 says it best, "Here I am Lord, send me!" Jesus also called us all to missions in Matthew 28:19 when he said, "go into the world and make disciples of all nations." This year, at Water of Life, I have heard Pastor Dan talk about missions many times and he always says, "you won't grow if you don't go." Until this point in my life I haven't really had a mission laid on my heart, I've always been open to going and I always have prayed that I would get the opportunity to go on a mission, but none ever called out to me and I never felt God leading me to one.

This all changed last summer. I have been attending Water of Life regularly since last Easter 2012 (WOW, I can't believe its already been a year) and I have been mission hungry since I saw each and every mission trip get sent out this past summer. Each time a new trip was sent out they would get prayed over and each time I felt a tiny tug inside of my heart. I felt God nudging me to step out and step up to go. I had no idea how to sign up to go, but I knew when they announced the next mission trip I was going to prayerfully sign up.

At the beginning of each year Water of Life starts the meetings for their next missions trips, I was ready when I heard about the first mission meeting in February. I decided that I would go to that meeting and then begin to pray, daily. over the trip that I was to attend (I already knew that I was called to one of them, God had already placed that on my heart). At WOL they give out booklets explaining each trip and the purpose. I decided to take that booklet and begin to pray over each page and that God would show me the trip he had destined for me. Each night I would pray over it, and I began to cross out the trips that I knew didn't work with my teaching schedule. The booklet kept opening up to a Cambodia trip (I wanted to go to Africa, but that I was my desire), I kept praying and kept seeking God, but I sort of felt like I was being led to Cambodia. I decided to look online for an application and saw that the Cambodia trip was with Pure (the young adult group at our church)...I should step back and say that I have also been praying that God would connect me with some people of my own age because I've had to give up a few non-life giving friendships this year. It has been a difficult and lonely road trying to seek God without the aid of friends (but I know they were bringing me down). This was a mini confirmation to me since it seemed to fit with my prayers. That Wednesday night at bible study I told my (wonderful/God sent) friend Emily about the trip that I was feeling called toward and she freaked out, pulled the same page insert out of her purse and told me she was feeling lead to that trip too. It was wonderful to hear that we were going on the same trip!! (I am SO blessed). Emily had gotten some other confirmation as well.

I thought that was it, I was all ready to fund raise for this mission trip and to pray over it and I was READY! Well not even a week later I start getting asked if I am going to the WOW Jam in Detroit(it is an outreach we do out there every summer). More than one person asked and more than one person inquired, it was weird. I started to think, "Did I hear the wrong message? Am I supposed to go to Detroit?" What seemed like something I was so sure on I began to have doubts. One Wednesday Lisa (who is going on the trip) asked me, "Are you going to Detroit?" like I was already signed up. I told her I was going to pray about it because it was weird that I kept getting asked about it. Finally I get asked by Anna (our Upland venue pastor and the lead on the team)....I got all worked up and told her I was going to get an application, but I wasn't sure yet. I prayed and told God, "OK God, if you want me to go to both you need to supply the 600's for TWO different mission trip deposits." I filled out the application and just kept praying about it when I thought about it. I knew I didn't have 600 dollars (300 for the deposit for Cambodia and 300 for the deposit for Detroit).

Website for Detriot--http://wateroflifecc.org/wow-jam

Well, God is truly all powerful! This week I get a random deposit in my account from my school of 500 dollars. I hear God's nagging voice saying, "now you have the money....." and just like the dumb child of God I am I don't go and pay for the deposit. (no worries, I didn't spend the money), but I just left it in my account. I kept praying, even though my prayer request had already been answered. I get home from Chicago this week and my sis paid rent and put the money inside the binder near my bed right on top of the Detroit application! I finally said, "OK God I hear you!!" and turned in both deposits.

SO, I am going on TWO missions trips this summer. I am not sure how they both will be funded and I am not sure WHY he wants me on both trips, but I will be faithful in his request. I know that God has a reason for everything under the sun and I know they my destiny and (prayerfully) the destiny of others are dependent on these two trips. I am SO thankful that God would see me fit to be used for Him. I am not worthy of Him and I am not worthy of His work. My prayer is that HE will empower me and HE will gain all the glory from both trips and from my life.

If you are reading this and are a believer will you say a prayer for me? Say a prayer for both trips and say a prayer for anyone who's life needs to be touched because of these trips? Say a prayer for funding? Say a prayer for me to go boldly in the name of Christ?

Oh how I want to submit my life to Him, His goodness, and HIS plan.

Amen.