How On Earth Did I Get Here?

How did I get here? That is a very interesting story. I must say that I am still somewhat in shock that I’m writing this and that I’m going on this trip I dreamed about 5 years ago.

2011: In 2011, I graduated high school. It was a very exciting time especially because I was set to attend the wonderful University of Georgia. Sometime during that spring, I remember sitting down with a friend and sharing that I felt like God was calling me to the mission field in some capacity at some point. My plan at the time was that I was going to go to UGA and then attend Physician’s Assistant school. A friend of mine went on a DTS through YWAM around that time. I looked into it, and I found this awesome DTS- the training is in New Zealand and the outreach was medically oriented, which is what my plan for school was. With my schooling plan, at one point, I would have a semester off, and that would allow me to do the DTS. God had different plans, and I ended up coming to Kennesaw State University for nursing school. This change did not allow for a semester off, and I buried that dream.

March 2016: Now, we have fast-forwarded a few years. Sometime around March my friend, Moesha, decided to do a DTS through YWAM, and she leaves in July. Her mom, who is one of my good friends, and I were discussing it while hiking one day. I had explained that years ago I had thought about doing a DTS myself. Tisha said she thought I should go on a DTS, and I remember telling her that I didn’t feel moved to go. Thus, God must not be calling me to go, and besides, I don’t have 5 months of PTO in order to leave for a DTS. To leave for 5 months would most likely mean that my job was not waiting when I got back, and being a newly graduated nurse, I wasn’t sure how that would work when I attempt to get a job when I would get back. The conversation got my wheels rolling again, and I found that I could go with YWAM through a base in Townsville, Australia and jump aboard their medical missions boat for 2 weeks in December, since I am a RN and I have 2 weeks of PTO.

April/May 2016: I begin to start thinking about buying a house. I pray about it and pray about it. As much as I prayed, I wasn’t getting a clear yes/no from God- it all felt very muddied. Eventually at the beginning of May, I conclude that the desire is still here and so I will move forward, and God will stop me if I’m off track. I apply for pre-approval, and received that, yet the waters were still very muddied. On the night of the 14^th, I was very frustrated when I laid down to go to sleep. I was frustrated with multiple facets of life, house buying being one of them. I was frustrated that things aren’t changing and improving the way I want them too. Relationships aren’t being healed like I want them too. It’s just not working. I barely slept that night for no real reason. I go to bed frustrated all the time and sleep.

            Finally at 6am, I’m fully frustrated with my lack of sleep. “Fine, God. I will get up and make a pot of coffee and open my Bible. Maybe I will find some answers.” I didn’t expect to actually find answers. I flip around and eventually land in Luke 5 at the calling of Peter. As I read, I understood the frustration of fishing all night and catching no fish; I just mentally fished all night and had no answers to show for it. At the end of the story it says, they “left everything and followed him.” 5 words. They just happened to be double underlined. The second I read them, I instantly knew what God was saying, and unlike buying a house, it was very crystal clear. It was as clear as the water in the Gulf of Mexico where you can see the bottom. I knew God was saying that I needed to go do a DTS. I asked God about my job. How does this work? I can’t just leave my job for 5 months and expect it to be waiting until my return. God said two things- 1) He asked if I trust Him enough to leave the job I worked so incredibly hard for because He asked me to? He asked if I trusted Him enough to go be obedient and have Him work out the rest. 2) He pointed out that Peter left his boat on the shore when he was called. He didn’t take 6 months to sell his boat and pack up his wife. He left his boat right there and walked away.

            I talked this all through that morning with my dear friend, Ann, and then the sermon at church that day confirmed what being said. As I talked it through with Ann, it just continued to be crystal clear. The same as I talked it through with Tammy.

That’s how I landed here. The trip is first out of absolute obedience to God. Another side to it is that this trip places me completely outside of my comfort zone and causes me to be completely dependent on God. It requires me to lay down the control in my life that I keep gripping with all my might. The trip will grow me in ways that I never thought imaginable. I’m excited on one hand, and fearful on the other.  However, I’m trusting God to make it all happen. 

I will need to be in New Zealand by July 18^th, and I will return at the beginning of December. Check back here for updates of the adventure and the things going on. I ask that you pray for my journey as well as Moesha Campo’s journey. Pray that both trips will grow us in ways we never thought possible and that they would connect us even deeper to God. Pray for safety and good health. Most of all, pray that God’s name is glorified. Thanks for reading! Love you all!