So here goes nothing…. I am starting a blog!
I suppose my journey up until now started quite some time ago, but I’ll save you sometime and only rewind a few months. I was set up to graduate a semester early from Nation Ford High School in December of 2017, and since I had been accepted into the University of South Carolina and wouldn’t be starting my classes until the fall, I had a free semester to do with whatever I pleased. I felt pressure to do something meaningful and educational, so I began researching and applying for internships at production companies in Charlotte, NC. After scattered hits and misses, I landed and internship with a company that produced short documentaries on nonprofit organizations to help tell their stories. I thinking, “man, it really can’t get better than this!” But, God was watching me, and He knew that it could, in fact, get better than that, I just had to be patient and trust that in His time, I’d be called to something so much greater.
My boss had told me I would be set to start work in early January, so after the holidays I sent her an email to let her know I was so excited to start working, and to ask her when exactly she wanted me to begin. After a week passed by and I hadn’t received a response, I emailed again letting her know that I was ready whenever she needed me, but I asked her to just let me know that she was receiving my messages. Another week, and still, nothing. I attempted one last email, but by this point I realized that it wasn’t meant to be. So, I prayed! I trusted Gods plan enough to not be too upset about it not working out, because I know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. There is no point in worrying about things that are out of my control.
I continued to ask God what He wanted me to do with my free semester, but I didn’t feel particularly drawn by the spirit in any specific way, so I began simply searching for jobs. I knew at the very least a work place would provide me a new mission field, so if I couldn’t do something big, I might as well be faithful with something small. It wasn’t long after beginning my new job that I had to take some time off for my mission trip to Guatemala… I suppose thT brings us almost up to date.
Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to serve the Lord in Guatemala with Christ the King church. While I was there, I didn’t think about home much at all, I just concentrated on doing my best to be the hands and feet of Jesus and share His love with everyone I came in contact with. By the grace of God, I am able to pick up the Spanish language very quickly whenever I am immersed in the Latin culture, so I spent a lot of time with children at the church and school talking with them and learning about their lives as I, also, shared my life with them. In the later part of the week, Pastor Erika and her daughter Rebe (the current English teacher) approached me and asked me to stay and teach English at La Promesa Educational Facility.
This was the opportunity I had been hoping and praying for for years, and I never thought I’d have the chance to do something this incredible before going to college! But how humbling it was to be reminded that no matter what plans and timeline I create in my head, God always has the final word, and His plan is ALWAYS greater than anything I could concoct in my mind.
I spent some time in prayer and announced to my team the following day that the Lord had called me to take the offer. I discussed it with my parents and we agreed that I’d return to the US with my team, then fly back to Guatemala a week and a half later to begin my new-and-improved internship!
Okay so I’m not sure how most people do blogs, it I think after that telling you that story, I’ll leave you with some encouragement; God always has a plan. Trust that His plan is always to prosper you, and rest knowing that you can never make a plan for yourself that is better than what He has in store for you. Have faith when you can’t see or don’t understand His plan. And if He calls you to do something loud and clear, don’t hesitate to answer with a bold, YES!
Grace & Peace (:
Carly