Carolyn's post just reminded me that it is one week and one day until we leave! I can't believe it's almost here! I've enjoyed reading everyone's inspiring posts! Thanks for sharing. I'm not sure my story is all that inspiring but here it goes. I really enjoy traveling, meeting new people, and experiencing different cultures. I have been blessed with several opportunities to do so in my life. I was itching to travel again last year, and I spent some time online researching volunteer/service types of trips. I wanted to volunteer because #1) I thought it would be more rewarding than doing the touristy thing and I really enjoy helping people, #2) I was looking for opportunities to practice Spanish more and #3) if I'm being completely honest, I thought my husband would be more willing to pay the money for it if it was service-related as opposed to for my own personal enjoyment. I wasn't experiencing much success with my online search, but it was around that time that God began to work in my life again.
I had been going to different churches off and on, but God led me to Gateway. I was amazed at first with the people I was meeting and the overwhelming feeling that God led me to these people for a reason. Then I began to hear about the Peru trip, and I was immediately on board! It was an answer to a prayer that I probably didn't know I should be praying. I think I was still in the mindset of my three earlier reasons for travel, but God quickly changed my perspective! He worked in my life in so many ways on the trip last year. He was pretty honest with me about the things I needed to change in my life, he gave me a fabulous group of people to work with and learn from, and best of all I experienced such joy in what I was doing, not just with using Spanish and playing with kids (two of my very favorite things!) but in doing work for Him!
This year I know more about what to expect, and I'm approaching the trip with a much different mindset, but I hope I am just as equally inspired as last year! This past year I feel I have learned so much on my walk with the Lord, but I have also experienced quite a bit of stress and anxiety over a job at a new school district and some life changes I will be facing in the next couple of years. I pray daily for discernment on what to do, but the answers have not come to me yet. I keep using the analogy that I feel like I'm on a cliff looking over the edge and below are so many different exciting things I could be doing. I want to jump, but I don't know in which direction or even if I should at all. Right now I feel like God's holding me on the cliff. I plan to continue to pray and seek answers, and I hope that in Peru God has some insight for me. Even if he continues to tell me to stay on the cliff! All I know right now is that I am excited to serve him again and to work with all of you! I can't wait to see what he wants to teach me this year and what he has planned for us as a team!
~ Amy D. ~
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