So-- I'm back home on the sweet Texas soil
I so missed for the last six months. With the family and friends I cherish. Those three months in India feel like a long dream now as I am still trying to process all that has just happened in such a short time.... Most who have been
following my journey through updates and blogs know a few of the many things that happened in India. I've learned by experience now that
if God tells you to go somewhere, he won't forsake you and make you do it
alone... He will go there with you, no matter where in the world you are. If He
sends us, He will provide us with the strength, courage, and heart
to do all that he has asked.. Just a year ago I would never have dreamed of joining Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and I definitely wouldn't have believed God if He'd told me in advance I'd
end up in India for three months. But I've been thinking lately, about how God works... and how
nowhere God sends us is for nothing. There is PURPOSE in all that He does. For example-- I graduated high school
early in the summer 2009, I was almost 17. I didn't really know why except that I was ahead and could. But
once I graduated I wasn't sure what to do next... I was both intimidated and very young to go off to college. An opportunity opened for me to attend Leaders Academy
Internship in Arkansas for 1 year and I was happy to be accepted. While there I worked with a church called Christian Ministries
in Hot Springs and along with 25 other students attended Christian and life skill
classes. As Interns, we were assigned to work in different parts of the
ministry and serve in the church. To be
honest I didn't feel I had much to offer when it came to talents or handy
skills so I let them assign me to media. I mean hey-- I knew how to turn on a
computer and log onto Facebook, at least! The year I was there serving I learned so much... I
learned how to work computers, make slide shows, graphic designs, edit
podcasts, etc. etc. etc. But also I grew in my walk with the Lord and gained not only life skills but made close christian friends in the process. After I graduated from Applied Life I knew I needed
to start working on my degree. That fall (2010) last minute I applied and was accepted to Verity in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school was a fast trac university where you study your brains out really really really hard for a couple weeks and then test... If you pass you get the credits. If you're a good tester this works to your benefit... If you are NOT a good tester...not so much! I felt a leading to go-- I was so scared having never
lived quite that far from home and also knowing that tests in school have
always been my worst enemy! Of all places, of course I'd feel led to do
something I fear most. The first
test I took I passed-- with the exact number score needed to pass! I earned the
six credits for that class from the test. I didn't pass another test for a
long time. Thankfully, I made some very special, God sent friends while there who encouraged me along the way. My roommate Melody and Valen my student advisor encouraged me (along with several others) to keep trying, not lose hope and give up. Melody and I were taking a lot of the same tests so we would help each other
study and Valen was a huge part of helping us. His office was always
open to his students. I only passed a handful of classes the year I was there,
missing a lot of them by just a few points. There were so many times I wanted
to just go home. But that is where I learned the skill of perseverance... But something I find interesting was while
I was there; I took a world religions course. While studying I was most
captured in studying the religions of India. They were so interesting, and
found myself reading and studying of them just for fun...or so I had
thought. Towards the end of that year I felt it was time and I was ready to
try something new. So that next August (last
August) I transferred to the University of Mary Hardin Baylor. While I was taking those
courses, I was so glad to have gone to Verity where I had learned to study entire subjects in only 2 weeks and then test... University was easy after that experience! However while at Mary Hardin Baylor, I learned the hard way of how much I needed God. I let myself be
vulnerable to temptation, yet through it all, God protected my heart. I learned
how much I need Him and how difficult it is to try things on my own. Academically I thrived but over Christmas break God began to deal with me and put missions in my heart. He spoke to me to join YWAM for a season.... Which leads me to where I am now... and I feel that season hasn't
quite ended.... Summer is nearly over so last
minute life decisions are around the corner for a lot of us. I plan to go back to
the YWAM base in Kona and work for the Discipleship Training School that I just completed called "Engage". September to December we (those of us from my school who
decide to come back on staff) will spend doing leadership training and
serving the base. Come January a new school of students will come (just as I
did last January) and I will be on staff for them for three
months helping train students. After that, I will then lead a team somewhere in the world for another 3 months.. I'm going to be honest-- I'm scared. I'm a lot scared, actually. But really everywhere God has told me to go so far I was scared before and it was right where I was supposed to be. Funny how fear tries its best to stop us. But this is my full intention: Courage. And I believe taking this step into leadership will establish this!
I said all of that to say this.... God does EVERYTHING FOR A REASON. There were several times I thought I was wasting time. Especially when my path was switching and changing course so much. But now that I look back...I can see God's handiwork in my life. These experiences are the building blocks.. If I hadn't graduated early, I know I would've been too proud to take a year off and go do the non-credit internship where I learned life skills and how to work with media. These computer skills have been helpful for everywhere I've gone so far, and I hope to continue to excel in this area. Going to Verity taught me perseverance. This is the place I learn about the religions of the world and became fascinated by the information especially India. I chose India as my outreach location-- so crazy how it ended up being one of the six options to choose from. Out of all the places in the world!
Going to University taught me the most important lesson of all...how much I NEED Him... God has a plan for each of us and He wants to see through to it. Sometimes we might be scared or unsure of WHY God is telling us to go somewhere.. or take what seems to be a detour... Take it from someone who has learned-- He does it all for a reason and none of it is a waste. Someday we will see how much affect each place or detour had to establish His purpose and plan not only in our lives but in the lives of others! In all of these places I have been, I have been blessed with friendships that I will always treasure. These divine friends are so encouraging to me on so many levels... I love the way God works....
So that's my plan! I will be moving back to the YWAM base September 21st and will be there through next summer minus a one week break for Christmas! I can't thank those of you enough who have helped me in my walk and encouraged me a long the way. Posted below is a few pictures and a link to a small video clip I made while on outreach in India... a journey of memories and Gods beautiful people.... Enjoy!
Many blessings! Until next time--
XOXO, Macy.
Video link:
https://vimeo.com/44948101
Some pictures from India:
