My name is Rachel and I am sixteen years old and God has called me to India. I have the "American Dream" just like any other girl. I want to go to college. I want to have a family. The reality is that God has a different plan for me. I do not own myself. How selfish is it to set out to please myself instead of the God who created me and wants what is best for me? Recently, I have been learning that if I am going to trust God, I must trust him ALL of the way. I must go all the way for Him. I must leave everything that my selfish heart desires and pick up my cross and follow Jesus. Matthew 16:24-26 says, "Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" This verse has really hit me hard this past year. I have been telling God that I want to go to college like the rest of my friends! I want to get married and have a family in my own timing. If that is what is best for my life, wouldn't God lead me in that direction? God has shown me what is best for my life right now is to go to India. I have no idea how this will all work out. That is why I need to trust God more than anything right now. To be honest this mission that God is sending me on is a little scary but God led me to the story in Matthew 8. There was a huge storm raging on and the disciples were afraid. But Jesus said to them in Matthew 8:26-27, "He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”. God has called us all to obey and have faith. This whole mission requires faith in God and constant prayer. This January I have been blessed to have the amazing opportunity to go to India for a short term mission trip. This will give me a small glimpse of what I will be doing in the future. I will be traveling to Orissa, India with a team from the Summit Church of North Raleigh. Seeing God's plan for my life unfold is so exciting and I would like to include you in it! You can continue to check my blog to see how God is leading and guiding me to India. You can also donate to my trip by going to www.globalhopeindia.org/donate . Select on “Designate this Donation”, check 2015 January 16-25 Orissa Medical Team, and then select the “Designate” button by my name/photo in order to support our trip. In addition, checks made payable to Global Hope India can be mailed to GHI - 400 Fayetteville St Ste E - Raleigh, NC 27601 with my name on a sticky note. GHI will send you a tax-deductible receipt. All gifts to GHI are tax-deductible and therefore non-refundable. All donations are used to support GHI and its charitable causes. Please know I am so thankful and honored that you would give your time, prayers, and donations. God is doing great things in India and I know He will continue!
~Rachel
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