Laid Down

I found my life when I laid it down.

The past few days, I have been somewhat overwhelmed with various emotions. I am currently awaiting the arrival of my staff paperwork for Overland, which leaves me in awe that this is real and incredibly excited for the future. This process also highlights some of the ways in which I am laying down my life.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a planner by nature, and I’d probably plan out every detail of the next 70 years of my life if I could. I’m definitely giving that ability up, and I’m also giving up the plans that I had. One of my biggest tasks upon coming home was to go through all of my belongings and get rid of all my kitchen and household items that I will no longer need. I did start college after high school as an interior design major, so I love household things and decorations. While I’m thrilled to have been able to donate 7 boxes full of stuff to Hope’s Closet, it was kind of tough. If I ever have a house of my own, it’ll be on the mission field down the road, and I’m signing up for living in a large tent for several years.

But then I reflect on what I’m gaining.

This is Kenita.

Notice the bow in her left leg. At our last hut on our last day of our last expedition, we were asked to stay and pray for this unbelievably precious little girl. The twisted bones in her leg caused her pain and to limp on the side of her foot. We prayed intensely for her for about half an hour. While we didn’t see instantaneous restoration of her bones, she said that a little of the pain went away, and none of my team walked away feeling defeated. We know that her pain was nailed to the cross and that she WILL be completely healed, even if that involves her legs straightening out as they grow over the next several years of her life, and God will be glorified in her village through it.

I would gladly lay down my life for that little girl to have her pain taken away and be able to grow up normally and knowing Jesus as her savior and her healer. Before we left, she gave me a hug, and I guarantee you that if nothing else, that little girl will never forget the day that a group of white people prayed over her and told her she was beautiful and special.

On our first day of our last expedition, we faced a situation where a husband was abusing and cheating on his wife. We talked to and prayed for both of them, and a few days later, we received a report that their marriage was completely restored. Even as we prayed for the wife that first day, her countenance was completely lifted as God began filling her heart with peace. I would gladly lay down my life for that couple and their precious 10-month-old baby.

On the last day of our second expedition, we encountered a woman who did not know the Lord and was clearly very old and not of good health, and she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior. I don’t know if that woman is still on this earth or not, but if she isn’t, I’m thrilled to lay down my life to know that she’s in Heaven standing face to face with our Creator.

On our first expedition, we cast out two demons at a kid’s ministry event. On our last expedition, we freed a young man from chest pain and stored-up anger towards his wife and the man she had an affair with. On our first expedition, we hosted a night meeting where hundreds of Zambians accepted the Lord. I would lay down my life for just one.

“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.” – Mark 8:35

I’m still in awe every day that God would choose me to carry His name to the nations, and despite all the difficulties entailed, I wouldn’t have my life any other way. I can truly say that I am finding my life by laying it down.

I would LOVE to have you as a part of my team for this crazy amazing journey. I will not know my final budget or have access to the online portal until my staff paperwork has been completed in a few weeks, but you can still jump on board now (and I need a few people to do so before the end of August because I have to pay for my staff retreat deposit ($200) and my partnership development training program ($900) plus I’ve had some unforeseen maintenance on my car since coming home ($400). Any help is appreciated!) by contacting me, and of course, through prayers.

**Update: Please click the partner link at the top of the page or contact me (the latter if you would like to meet for coffee and talk about what God is doing) to get involved. It takes everyone doing what little or lot they can do (the amount is between you and God!), and both monthly and one-time partners are needed!

I can’t wait to see what the future holds.