Many of you may know I was supposed to go to Romania as my last and final country of the world race. My initial route of the world race was Guatemala, Cambodia, and Eswatini. Then that was changed to Guatemala, South Africa, and Romania due to COVID. As the war in Ukraine grew, AIM was watching closely as to what safety conditions and concerns were.
Fun fact about me, war has always terrified me so much. I had been really anxious that whole week before our call with our mentor about the situation. I had nightmares and found myself unable to focus during ministry, overwhelmed with all that was happening in the world. After so much being cancelled the past two years due to COVID, I was also just tired and discouraged as well. One morning I woke up and the fear was gone. I was no longer anxious. The waters in my mind had stilled. I felt Him nudging at me that He was preparing me for something. Before I knew it my heart was breaking for Ukraine. I started following American missionaries on Instagram that chose to stay and serve amidst such a terrifying reality. I started to pray and think about the souls affected by this war. My heart was breaking for what broke His, yet it wasn’t weighed down with fear and crippling anxiety.
A couple days later, we were told we had to choose between going to Romania amidst potential safety concerns or have a route change to Ecuador. This would result in a squad split, meaning I would be away from a decent amount of some of my best friends after 7 months of living together. We had 24 hours to decide.
I prayed into this a lot. I knew where I was being led. I finally knew in my heart what the preparation was for all along. The hardest part was saying yes. Saying yes meant I was overcoming my fears of feeling unsafe and uncomfortable. Saying yes meant I was going to take risks. Saying yes meant I was going to be doing refugee ministry for all of the brave souls fleeing their country. So I did, I said yes. I chose Romania.
Two days later, we were informed that the safety conditions were changing and we would most likely be pulled out of Romania a short time after arriving, so we were all being sent to Ecuador.
My yes wasn’t for nothing. It has definitely felt that way. Yet another hard decision I had to make, and yet another thing cancelled. I asked the Lord a lot of questions. I was really confused and didn’t really know how to feel at that point.
Just because I said yes to Romania, does not mean I have to say no to Ecuador. Just because I say yes to Ecuador now, does not mean I say no to fighting and interceding for Ukraine/Romania in other ways. When I put my yes on the table, it wasn’t only a yes for what I thought to be the best plan. It was a yes for anything, anyone, and anywhere He takes me to.
If you had asked me to make that decision between the two countries a week earlier, I would have immediately chose Ecuador and ran as far away as I could from the word “war”. Even though I really am in South America now, that yes to Romania overflowed into a million other steps of obedience.
So here I am in Ecuador. My last country, where my yes is continually on the table.
(read pt 2 about my new ministry and month 8 of the race)
Bye for now,
MG
