Reflections on a Year of Missions

This past year was so full of adventures with the Lord that I didn’t even realize I had been on the road for eight months with only four months at home. That’s wild to think about because as much of an adventurer I seem like on one hand those months feel like an eternity but on another I feel like they flew by

While setting goals for this upcoming year, I looked back at everything God had done and was amazed. He truly took me through hills and valleys. I remembered a prophecy I received five years ago, back when I was at a small group in Texas that my sister took me to. A friend of hers prophesied things that I am only now living out. I had forgotten about that prophecy until I was in Africa, and the words rang in my ears:

“The Lord is going to take you on a great adventure, and you will have a fearlessness and boldness toward adventure. You won’t even realize it until you’re dancing in the desert with Jesus.”

I still forget about that prophecy sometimes, but when I take the time to look back, I realize how good the Lord is for confirming all the things I’ve been living out - especially the eight months I spent in the field this past year

At the beginning of 2024, I was in two different countries in Central Asia. From there, I traveled to three different countries in Europe and then went to Ukraine. I felt that God really led me to each of these locations and also allowed me to serve the communities around me. I was blessed to be a part of several orphan projects, which were heavy on my heart, evangelism, worked with urban frontier missions, The Send, local churches, relational ministries, red-light district outreach, and so much more.

One thing I noticed was how deeply I was gripped by each situation I found myself in. I remembered a prayer I had prayed:

Lord, make my heart hurt for the things Your heart hurts for.

And as I reflected, I was overwhelmed by all the different ministries, people, and countries that burdened my heart this past year. I realized God was answering my prayer. I used to think I was called to just one ministry or another, but looking back, I can see that God was showing me how much He cares about all of these things. He was allowing me to feel what I had asked of Him.

Isaiah 1:17 (NIV) – “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”

At one point, I started to feel a little scattered because I was overwhelmed with settling back home, going through Bible school, being in Ukraine, and everything else in between.

But when I took the time to ask God, What were You doing? What difference did I even make?—He started to show me all the little seeds He had planted all over the world.

So, what’s next? Well, let’s leave that to the Lord. I am just a servant, ready to do whatever He asks of me

But on a real note, I've always been rooted in my local church and love it there, so I’m getting more involved in outreach ministries, wanting to work closely with people in my city - building relationships and sharing the love of Jesus with them. At the same time, and if everything works out, I’m wanting to work with End Bible Poverty, a YWAM ministry that translates, delivers, and shares the Bible with communities that don’t have access to it all around the world

This is where I see my love for the nations and missions being effective for now but as I get more into that, I might be directed elsewhere and I want to always leave room for the Holy Spirit to lead me

With all of that laid out, this is just the spiritual side of the past year in missions. But I know I’m far from the person I want to be. Sanctification is a journey, and I’m constantly working through my own struggles. Yet, no matter what, I refuse to stop putting God first. I want to pursue Him all the days of my life, running the race with endurance, so that when I finally see Jesus face to face, He will say, ‘Well done, daughter.’

Here’s to yet another year with Jesus.