To Risk//And Exciting News!!

The Lord continues to blow me away with His continued faithfulness. I’ve tried writing this blog 3 times now and each time, I get a lost for words on how to accurately describe the journey that He’s taken me on and what He’s inviting me into. 

In my previous attempts, I’ve tried writing about what the Lord has been teaching me in the past season of life that I’ve found myself in. OR how the Lord answered my prayer for what I wanted my 25th year, but not in a way that I expected. I get lost somewhere in the writing and wish that I could just sit you each down individually and talk about the Lord over a cup of coffee. I’m finding it hard to put into writing how the Lord has taken me through a season of not allowing me to see what He was doing and where He was working, but instead has showed me how to trust in Him as the Good Shepherd— leading me besides quiet water and guiding me through the valley of the shadow of death. I find it equally as hard to write about how the Lord so intentionally answered my 25th birthday prayer that I journaled the day before my birthday during the quiet of the morning in Romania. I read it the other day, right before my 26th birthday and it made me teary. Here it is:

 “I want in a year to be able to look back…to look back at this exact moment— sitting in the goodness of the Lord, reflecting back at His continued faithfulness—walking in all the freedom He’s brought me to— and be like “wow, that was only the beginning!” That my mind right now can’t even begin to imagine the more He has for me— immeasurably more— because right now I’m just amazed at the fullness of who He is and where He’s brought me to. Lord, you really are worthy of it all.”

He’s done so much in my life just this past year. He’s taught me to depend on Him alone. He’s met me in some hard places that He could only meet me if I was in those hard places. He’s taught me that He’s good and He’s present, even when I don’t feel like He is. That He is always working, He’s always moving, and He’s doing a deep work in each and every one of us. He’s taught me how to dream and has given me God-size dreams. But He’s also taught me not to let those dreams have a bigger voice in my life than He does— God doesn’t want us to chase our dreams, He wants us to chase Him— and in Him, we find the ultimate dream, abundant life! He’s taught me a lot about what faith really is “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” Hebrews 11:1, and has strengthened my faith by not allowing me to see how it’s all going to work out, but instead called me to trust in His unfailing love and faithfulness. He’s taught me that He gives me a choice in the plans that He has for my life— and through those choices, He promises to never leave me. He’s taught me how take captive thoughts, believe the best about others, celebrate the small wins of the day and cheer on others in the race they’re running. Our lives aren’t cookie cutters and He’s doing something special and unique in each and every individual.

And now? Now I feel like the Lord is teaching me how to risk. By definition it means to “expose to danger, harm or loss”— personally, I feel like the Lord is teaching me and calling me to step out in the places and areas He is calling me to, even if my natural self or others says otherwise. I want to step out in faith and go where Jesus is leading me. I think of Peter walking on the water… yes, He did end up sinking but I mean HEY, he was the only one with enough courage and faith to even step out of the boat!! This is the same Peter who later in Acts 4:13 it reads “When they saw the courage of Peter and John…they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Peter had a work done in him because He has been with Jesus and it showed in how he stepped out courageously into situations. Yes, he failed some along the way and yes he did begin to sink while walking on water, but every courageous story starts with a small step of faith. I want my life to looks different too. I want to step out courageously because I too have been with Jesus and it should make us all look different when we come to the full realization that we have his spirit within us when we choose to say yes to Him. So here’s to 26– stepping out with courage and risking what I or others may think to follow where Jesus is leading! 

Side note: I jumped out of plane the day before my 26th birthday (I went skydiving) and it felt really symbolic of this next year and season of life. 🙂

So, with all of that said: here is the next season Jesus is inviting me into!!

A couple of weeks ago, the opportunity to go back out on the field through Adventures in Missions presented itself, and I said yes!! I’m honestly so excited and just really thankful for the Lord’s faithfulness and how He continues the things He’s started. You see, during the last part of my race, I was able to team lead for the last 4 months. It was during these months that the Lord really gave me a love and passion in coming alongside others in their walk of faith— to share Jesus so that those who don’t know Jesus will come to know Him, and also to share Jesus to those who do know Jesus- so they will continue to know Jesus in a deeper and fuller ways and the person He is calling them to be. 

This time, I’ll be gone for 3 months and I get to be a part of the leadership and co-lead a group of 15 individuals on their semester trip as we travel to Costa Rica and Nicaragua! There, we will be with long term partners of AIM and ministries to spread the Good News!!!

Honestly, I’m filled with all the mixed emotions. I’m beyond stoked and filled with holy anticipation for what’s to come!! There’s also a part of me that’s nervous and sad to be leaving friends from home again but I guess that’s where the whole risk thing comes in. I feel this deeper call on my life form the Lord and if He’s leading, I’m definitely saying yes!!! 

Words really can’t be written for the ways that I have seen the Lord provide for me in this trip. When I initially was asked, I knew it would be a short turn around (like less than a month), but I immediately began to pray that if God wanted this to happen He would open up the doors that needed to be opened and would provide a way to go— one of those being financially. With it being a 3 month commitment, I needed to raise support to cover the cost which would be $3,000. It’s literally only by the grace of God and the grand generosity from individuals that I can say, I’M FULLY FUNDED!!!! Seriously, PRAISE THE LORD. He is so kind in providing for me in this way!! I had prayed that the Lord would allow me to become fully funded before I left (although I didn’t say specify if it was leave from NC or leave from the USA— there’s about a month difference between the two) and He answered and provided in ways that were IMMEASURABLY MORE than I could ever ask or imagine. Seriously, if you are reading this right now and you helped support me, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART and I’m praying so many blessings and favor over you!!!

Its been so cool to see how the Lord has been calling me step out in faith and to risk and then how He shows up in the biggest ways in the midst of it all. 

Now, I’m asking for support through prayer!

-For the group going out: for unity within the squad and boldness to go out and share the faith that we hold on to. 

-For the new racers as they are preparing to leave their homes, family and friends to go where the Lord is calling them.

-That I would be able to lead with diligence and that the Lord would give me His strength, wisdom and discernment to lead well. 

-For the ministries that we will be partnering with during our time there and the hearts of the people we will encounter— that words would be given to use so we can fearlessly make known the Gospel

I will be flying down to Georgia for leadership training in Gainesville on August 15th. On the 27th, racers will be coming from all over the country for their training camp. And then on September 9th, we’ll be flying out to our first country to start ministry!!! I’m so excited for this next season that the Lord is inviting me into and cannot wait for all of the testimonies that come from it!! If you have any questions or would like to chat, feel free to reach out! My number is 919-922-2582. 

Love,
MK