“Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.” (Proverbs 4:26)
I should be in bed, I should be sleeping, but nothing could keep me from the keyboard tonight; my heart won’t stop speaking. I’ve been giving careful thought to the path for my feet.
What path? The one I discovered only 3 days ago. Thursday night I was eating alone at dinner when Kelly (a Chaplain like myself) invited me to sit at her table. When Kristen, her friend, discovered that my major is journalism and media communication, she asked me if I had heard of World Next Door. I hadn’t, so she shared about what they do and told me about their internship.
I won’t ever be the same.
I feel like I discovered my dream.
Please check out the links at the bottom (just click) to read about what the internship is like and visit their website. I seriously could not explain it to you better than they do, plus… their website is just awesome. Currently I am filling out an application for their internship and praying a lot. The deadline is this Monday (one day from now).
Everything about how God has made me, my life vision, all my passions, and every skill I’ve developed matches with World Next Door. I mean, it’s everything. I won’t download all the details to you, because that would just be a blast of words about me, and I can spare you that. I know, God knows, and I hope World Next Door will realize it when they read my application. I AM SO EXCITED! You are going to make fun of me, but seriously, in the back of my mind, I’m like… (mouth gaping open as I imagine) what if they looked at my blog? And, if they did, instantly I already know what I would want to say to them: PLEASE PICK ME, IT WOULD MAKE MY DREAM COME TRUE! I LOVE WORLD NEXT DOOR! I LOVE JESUS! I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS INTERNSHIP! YOU MAKE ME WANT TO DANCE UP AND DOWN! I WANT TO BE THERE NOW! (Insert 4,000 heart symbols).
But I decided that sounds a bit desperate or possibly crazed (hmm, is that wrong?).
Ah-hem.
[Insert awkward pause, move on to the next paragraph and pretend I’m normal…]
This would be a summer internship in Niarobi, Kenya. I love Kenya! Even crazier, my heart specifically is fond of Nairobi. My uncle Sheldon (who is a pastor) and his family lived in Nairobi for 5 months. When my Uncle and his family returned to the United States, a Kenyan Pastor came back with them. My family got to know Pastor Harrison and his family very well! Getting to know them and learning about their life in Kenya made us all fall in love with his country, too.
Even while I’m dreaming in my head about how AWESOME this internship would be, this really isn’t all about me (don’t let your jaw drop too far…). Yes, it has a lot to do with everything I have ever wanted. My future, my dream, my passions, what I love and what makes me so pumped up inside!
This internship is an opportunity to live out everything I believe I was created for: love, serving, glorifying God, helping others, learning, growing, make a difference in the kingdom of God, (etc). Deep down in my heart, I know this is what God has been preparing me for. This is what I will be doing the rest of my life, whether through World Next Door or not. God has made me for a purpose: to love. I love God with everything I am and everything I do, and out of His love for me, I overflow love into others. I love by what I have to give. Jesus laid down His life for me, and my response is that I lay down my life for Him. He gave me new life, and I want to give of that abundant life to others. I want to minister to others through the gifts He has given me, to reach out to others and offer hope, encouragement, life, help, and transformation. And God wants me to grow, learn, and be transformed, too.
I know wherever God leads me, wherever He opens doors, I will follow. I am pursuing this desire and laying it before the cross. Not my will be done, but Yours…
I want this so badly. I know nothing is impossible for God. I know that He holds my world in His hands (if you are thinking of a song right now, yes, it’s “Healer” by Kari Jobe). I am leaning on His truth. Proverbs 19:21 says,
Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
Amen. God, let Your purpose prevail. I trust in You, with all my heart. I won’t lean on my own understanding, but I’m submitting to You all my ways. I know You will direct my path (Proverbs 3:5-7).
World Next Door:
LIKE, LIKE, LIKE World Next Door‘s Facebook page. I did :]
Follow World Next Door on Twitter.
And if you want to be really awesome…pray for me!
1 Timothy 4:12 