His Perfect Timing

Here I am. I’m in month 11 of my race. 

 

It has been an incredible journey to get to this point.

 

One of the hardest lessons I had to learn in this journey was trust. 

 

If you go back through my blogs, you will see bits and parts of how this adventure came to be.

 

I’ve made it, and there’s an amazing, simple story that I want to share with you all.

 

Back in Oct. 2013, I was sent home from training camp. That afternoon, I sat confused and distraught, while watching the excitement of training camp from a giant window at a lodge situated at the top of the hill. I wanted to be excited for the “All Asia” route, but I just couldn’t help, but feel a little cheated that I had to go home. I felt like I was having to start at square one again, and I just couldn’t bear to think about the road ahead. As I sat there pondering and worrying about everything, a girl came into the lodge and sat beside me. She started asking questions on whether I was ok or not, and if I wanted to talk about anything. I didn’t know her, yet I was dying to talk to someone. I told her how I felt called to the mission field, how I felt God pulling me towards the World Race, then I told her how I couldn’t go on this route, and how that crushed me, but then I started sharing about another route that God curiously placed on my heart. I talked of how I loved Asian people, the culture, the food, and the language. Suddenly, I started sharing experiences I had with different Asian people and places. I told stories of my mission trip to Pattaya, Thailand back in 2008, and how being there and loving on those people brought so much joy and strength in my life. I started feeling excited for this new route… that girl encouraged me, and she offered to pray for me. I felt peace that I was where I was supposed to be. She left, and I didn’t see her again. 

 

July 2014, I made it to training camp! I learned to let go and trust God! He made a way for me, and I felt brand new!

 

September 2014, we launch into this journey of a lifetime. We’re smack dab in the middle of a 3rd world culture experience, and it is insane. I can’t believe I am here!! Wow God!

 

Month 2 on the race, we are in Nepal, and guess what?! My old squad is here too! H squad and Z squad have a prophetic worship night together! Reunited with them, and it’s wonderful, yet different, because I finally realize that I should be exactly where I am. H squad is my family, and I’m so blessed. 

 

Months go by, every day is a blessing, a pre-drawn out plan that God created just for me… So here I am, I’m in South Korea, the last of my 11 month excursion….

Something amazing happened….

*Before we launched in September, our route did not include South Korea, but on the race, changes were made, and Korea became our last stop. Not knowing anything about this place, I was unfazed by the change. That was until we arrived… Remember that girl that prayed for me back at training camp in 2013? That same girl picked us up from the airport to take us to our Hostel. I saw her, and thought, man… she looks so familiar. Little did I know, she was thinking the same thing about me. We arrived at our hostel, and she helped us understand culture a little better. I listened, but I just couldn’t stop wondering if I knew her. Then a thought crossed my mind… could it be that she’s the girl that prayed for me… Everyone filed into the hostel to their separate rooms, but I stayed outside. I just had to know if I knew her or not…

 

Here’s our conversation:

 

Me: “Hey Michelle, this is completely random, but were you at the World Race training camp back in October of 2013…”

 

Michelle: “Yes, I was there.”

 

Me: “Oh my gosh… I think you prayed for me…”

 

Michelle: “Your that girl! The one that went home early from training camp!!”

 

Me: “Yes!! Thank you so much for praying for me!! I’m here! I’m in month 11 of my race! I never thought I would see you again. I’m so blessed! Thank you for your obedience to pray for me!”

 

Michelle: “Wow! I’m so blessed to see you here as well! I wondered if you ever made it… that’s amazing…God’s timing is always perfect.”

 

I’m here, because it was God’s plan for me. We were in Nepal at the same time of my last squad for a reason. South Korea being added to our route and meeting Michelle again were no coincidence. All these things were a part of His plan from the beginning. He put Asia on my heart, because He wanted me here. Back in 2013, I didn’t understand what was going on or why I had the take the road that I was on, but now, looking back, I understand. God’s timing is perfect, and I’m so blessed! This race has been incredible! I’m so grateful to live this life he has perfectly planned for me! 

 

As for right now, I don’t know what post-race plans look like, but I have a feeling that one day, I will go back to Asia. I don’t know when, and I don’t know how, but I just know that it will happen. Until then, I will just keep learning lessons, and striving to live the life He has called out in me. God’s timing is always perfect, so I look forward to see what is in store for me next.

 

Thank you, God for sending me on the World Race! Thank you for giving me a heart for Asia! Thank you for my H squad family! Thank you for all the teams I have been a part of! Thank you for providing my financial needs! Thank you for support, strength, and courage! Thank you for sending people like Michelle to encourage, love, and pray for me! Thank you, God for everything!

 

Here is a picture of me & Michelle

 

God is so good.