It's crazy how God can work things out. I mean, He is God and therefore He is all-powerful. But when He uses His children to accomplish His purposes, and let's them watch them unfold, it's amazing. This is the story of how God called me to go to Guatemala.
In the summer of 2010, a friend of mine went to Guatemala with an organization called Rainbows of Hope. As I followed along with her blog, I remember being jealous, I suppose, that she got to go on a missions trip. It had been my desire for some time to do something like that. It seemed too far off, or too lofty a goal for me to reach. So I let it slide.
Fast forward to December of 2010. I think it was the night of December 30 when I had a dream. A dream that I was at Casa Bernabe, the orphanage in Guatemala where my friend had gone. It was so real, I was there with the kids, I was standing out in the rain, I was talking in Spanish to the people there. (Looking back I pictured the orphanage exactly like the pictures I have seen now. Even though I hadn't seen them before my dream.) I couldn't get it out of my head. For months, I prayed, asking God if this dream was a call to go. After no answer for about four months, I stopped. It seemed like it was a no, the dream was just a coincidence.
But I couldn't get it out of my mind. My mom encouraged me to keep praying, to faithfully seek God in this matter. So I started praying again. In the summer of 2011, some big changes came to my church and family. Hard changes. I had to lean on God more than ever. Which doesn't make any sense because I should have been leaning on God that much the WHOLE TIME. When I entrusted my future completely and fully to Him, He began to give answers. I felt a pull to go to Guatemala. I went online, downloaded the application form and started to fill it out. I figured if God didn't want me to go, He would close some door.
January 31, 2012. My application was in by the deadline. I still hadn't renewed my passport. I started to get anxious because as the month of February passed, I had heard no word about my application and I still hadn't been able to get to the post office about my passport. February 2012 was probably the month God used the most to help me trust in Him. I had to fully lean on Him because I honestly didn't know what was going to happen next. I had this great desire to go to Guatemala that I thought was from the Lord, but nothing was happening. So I waited. And prayed. And waited some more.
March came around and I decided to call the office, to see if anything had been decided about my application. I had some possible summer job openings and I needed to solidify my plans. Well long story short, turns out my application had been lost but then found again and they began working on it immediately. Let me pause here and say that the staff at Rainbows of Hope are seriously awesome people. Wow. I love them already.
A week later (the longest week of my life) I got an email saying that I had been accepted into the Guatemala summer program with Rainbows of Hope. I was in chemistry class, but I looked up at my friend and mouthed, "I am going to Guatemala." We both smiled so big. Happiest day. I ran out of class thanking God for His faithfulness.
I went to the post office and was able to get my passport in less than a week. A few weeks ago, I turned in my forms and now in two weeks I will be on a plane to North Carolina for an orientation.
I stand in awe of my Savior when I recount this story. The way He brought about everything is amazing, teaching and disciplining me in the process. He never wastes a single moment. He is gracious, and He is good.
I would love your prayers as I embark on this next journey. This blog will be updated frequently (let's hope) so check back for updates. Thank you thank you everyone. And to God be the glory.
Fast forward to December of 2010. I think it was the night of December 30 when I had a dream. A dream that I was at Casa Bernabe, the orphanage in Guatemala where my friend had gone. It was so real, I was there with the kids, I was standing out in the rain, I was talking in Spanish to the people there. (Looking back I pictured the orphanage exactly like the pictures I have seen now. Even though I hadn't seen them before my dream.) I couldn't get it out of my head. For months, I prayed, asking God if this dream was a call to go. After no answer for about four months, I stopped. It seemed like it was a no, the dream was just a coincidence.
But I couldn't get it out of my mind. My mom encouraged me to keep praying, to faithfully seek God in this matter. So I started praying again. In the summer of 2011, some big changes came to my church and family. Hard changes. I had to lean on God more than ever. Which doesn't make any sense because I should have been leaning on God that much the WHOLE TIME. When I entrusted my future completely and fully to Him, He began to give answers. I felt a pull to go to Guatemala. I went online, downloaded the application form and started to fill it out. I figured if God didn't want me to go, He would close some door.
January 31, 2012. My application was in by the deadline. I still hadn't renewed my passport. I started to get anxious because as the month of February passed, I had heard no word about my application and I still hadn't been able to get to the post office about my passport. February 2012 was probably the month God used the most to help me trust in Him. I had to fully lean on Him because I honestly didn't know what was going to happen next. I had this great desire to go to Guatemala that I thought was from the Lord, but nothing was happening. So I waited. And prayed. And waited some more.
March came around and I decided to call the office, to see if anything had been decided about my application. I had some possible summer job openings and I needed to solidify my plans. Well long story short, turns out my application had been lost but then found again and they began working on it immediately. Let me pause here and say that the staff at Rainbows of Hope are seriously awesome people. Wow. I love them already.
A week later (the longest week of my life) I got an email saying that I had been accepted into the Guatemala summer program with Rainbows of Hope. I was in chemistry class, but I looked up at my friend and mouthed, "I am going to Guatemala." We both smiled so big. Happiest day. I ran out of class thanking God for His faithfulness.
I went to the post office and was able to get my passport in less than a week. A few weeks ago, I turned in my forms and now in two weeks I will be on a plane to North Carolina for an orientation.
I stand in awe of my Savior when I recount this story. The way He brought about everything is amazing, teaching and disciplining me in the process. He never wastes a single moment. He is gracious, and He is good.
I would love your prayers as I embark on this next journey. This blog will be updated frequently (let's hope) so check back for updates. Thank you thank you everyone. And to God be the glory.
