Before I say anything else, let me say first that this post will hopefully kick off the rest of my India posts. I have 32 days left until my trip and I hope to post as I prepare to spend the summer in India, and while I'm there I hope to post about all the life changing things I see, and of course pictures of all the beautiful children I get to spend my time with.
Last semester God began to lay India on my heart in a heavy way. I couldn't get the country, the people, the culture, any of it, out of my mind. When I applied to spend the summer serving in the city of Calcutta in India I was so excited and nervous to see what God had in store for me and the team of beautiful ladies I would get to serve with. When I was accepted I was so incredibly anxious to find out what I would be doing in India, and who I would be with and how the summer would change my life. I was nervous about funding, and overwhelmed with joy as God provided the means through my friends and family. I googled Calcutta an embarrassing amount, aching to be there, aching for the city and the people. As the countdown has dwindled I've been nervous about things like packing for such a long trip, and the shots I'd need to get. As I learned the names and saw the faces of the incredible girls that I'd get to spend the summer with, I began to pray specifically for them, and for our relationships with each other. I was so excited about what this trip would do for me in my life, in my walk with God.
Then God said, it doesn't matter. This isn't about you.
Last week my team and I found out that our location has been changed. We will instead be going to the state of Andhra Pradesh on the southeastern coast of India. Change this late in the game is nerve wracking. Another curve ball? My team that I have grown to know and love and have been praying for was split into two smaller teams. Oh, and the style of ministry we will be doing has changed to better fit the needs of AP. The peace I had felt about my trip, and the comfort zone I had formed was destroyed. I asked God why he would separate me from girls I was sure I would get to do great things with. I asked him why he would change our location, after our team had been praying so fervently for the city of Calcutta. I asked him if it was a mistake, surely it was a mistake.
He told me that none of this was about me. He told me to trust him.
Through conversations with the ladies on my teams, and my wonderful friend that has spent time in AP I'm finding peace in this new plan. I had spent so long worrying about what this trip would mean for me, and what it would do in my life, that I had forgotten that it had nothing to do with me at all. God reminded me of that by throwing a giant curveball so close the trip itself. He reminded me that its bigger than what I want, or think I need. At the end of the day, I had grown comfortable with the idea of Calcutta, and had grown used to the idea of a larger group, but those weren't the things I was called to. I had been to called to share the love of God in India, God laid India on my heart. I have to trust that no matter where in India I end up, it's in his plan, and it's right. The idea of a new location is terrifying, but the more I learn about AP the more excited I am about the things God will show me there. I know there is a reason for all of this, I know God is saying just trust me.
And then he reminded me once more that it isn't about me.
I am so blessed to be part of a great community with a heart for missions, and I am only one of many that are leaving their homes this summer to share God's love. I have wonderful friends that will be spending the summer doing beautiful things in England, Africa, San Francisco, Germany, Ecuador, Bulgaria, Belize, and church camps across the country. Lately I have let my thoughts and prayers be consumed with India, and today God reminded me that so many people in my life will be out sharing God's word. Today a friend that I have known for quite a while, and has been consistently supportive of my trip donated to my funding. This friend will be spending the summer on their own trip, that required their own funding and prayer. But they still reached out to me and supported me in my trip. I was so overwhelmed. God is good. Their donation, and love was so sincere and overwhelming. The financial aspect of it was a huge blessing, but the simple fact that even while preparing for their own trip, my friend reached out to help me with mine, that was the biggest blessing. They were so incredibly selfless and reminded to my step back and realize that this isn't about me. Throughout my fundraising journey I have been consistently blessed by the unbelievable generosity and love of my friends, family, and sometimes even strangers.
As the countdown dwindles further I am praying so strongly for my beautiful team, for Andhra Pradesh, for the wonderful friends that God has provided me and their trips this summer, for strength to trust God's plans, for humility and understanding that this is not about me, and for ridiculous radical and intense change in India.
Last semester God began to lay India on my heart in a heavy way. I couldn't get the country, the people, the culture, any of it, out of my mind. When I applied to spend the summer serving in the city of Calcutta in India I was so excited and nervous to see what God had in store for me and the team of beautiful ladies I would get to serve with. When I was accepted I was so incredibly anxious to find out what I would be doing in India, and who I would be with and how the summer would change my life. I was nervous about funding, and overwhelmed with joy as God provided the means through my friends and family. I googled Calcutta an embarrassing amount, aching to be there, aching for the city and the people. As the countdown has dwindled I've been nervous about things like packing for such a long trip, and the shots I'd need to get. As I learned the names and saw the faces of the incredible girls that I'd get to spend the summer with, I began to pray specifically for them, and for our relationships with each other. I was so excited about what this trip would do for me in my life, in my walk with God.
Then God said, it doesn't matter. This isn't about you.
Last week my team and I found out that our location has been changed. We will instead be going to the state of Andhra Pradesh on the southeastern coast of India. Change this late in the game is nerve wracking. Another curve ball? My team that I have grown to know and love and have been praying for was split into two smaller teams. Oh, and the style of ministry we will be doing has changed to better fit the needs of AP. The peace I had felt about my trip, and the comfort zone I had formed was destroyed. I asked God why he would separate me from girls I was sure I would get to do great things with. I asked him why he would change our location, after our team had been praying so fervently for the city of Calcutta. I asked him if it was a mistake, surely it was a mistake.
He told me that none of this was about me. He told me to trust him.
Through conversations with the ladies on my teams, and my wonderful friend that has spent time in AP I'm finding peace in this new plan. I had spent so long worrying about what this trip would mean for me, and what it would do in my life, that I had forgotten that it had nothing to do with me at all. God reminded me of that by throwing a giant curveball so close the trip itself. He reminded me that its bigger than what I want, or think I need. At the end of the day, I had grown comfortable with the idea of Calcutta, and had grown used to the idea of a larger group, but those weren't the things I was called to. I had been to called to share the love of God in India, God laid India on my heart. I have to trust that no matter where in India I end up, it's in his plan, and it's right. The idea of a new location is terrifying, but the more I learn about AP the more excited I am about the things God will show me there. I know there is a reason for all of this, I know God is saying just trust me.
And then he reminded me once more that it isn't about me.
I am so blessed to be part of a great community with a heart for missions, and I am only one of many that are leaving their homes this summer to share God's love. I have wonderful friends that will be spending the summer doing beautiful things in England, Africa, San Francisco, Germany, Ecuador, Bulgaria, Belize, and church camps across the country. Lately I have let my thoughts and prayers be consumed with India, and today God reminded me that so many people in my life will be out sharing God's word. Today a friend that I have known for quite a while, and has been consistently supportive of my trip donated to my funding. This friend will be spending the summer on their own trip, that required their own funding and prayer. But they still reached out to me and supported me in my trip. I was so overwhelmed. God is good. Their donation, and love was so sincere and overwhelming. The financial aspect of it was a huge blessing, but the simple fact that even while preparing for their own trip, my friend reached out to help me with mine, that was the biggest blessing. They were so incredibly selfless and reminded to my step back and realize that this isn't about me. Throughout my fundraising journey I have been consistently blessed by the unbelievable generosity and love of my friends, family, and sometimes even strangers.
As the countdown dwindles further I am praying so strongly for my beautiful team, for Andhra Pradesh, for the wonderful friends that God has provided me and their trips this summer, for strength to trust God's plans, for humility and understanding that this is not about me, and for ridiculous radical and intense change in India.
