Journey Day 313

So... I'm going to China for 10 months. Crazy yeah? I know, I even I think it's nuts and I'm the one going! But I just can't deny God's hand throughout this whole process. Most of you who read this blog already know that I'm going to China, and have been super supportive and I'm so incredibly grateful for that! But for those of you who don't know, I'm going to China and here is why...

Around the beginning of the semester, so mid January, I really began feeling convicted about the lack of intentional living in my life. So I decided it was time to change that. So I started to get more involved in my church, started giving more to my church and the world around me, hiked a mountain (which if you know me at all, you know that is very "un me") and started praying that God would give me a big way to step out in faith. Something where when people heard about it or saw it, they would know that God had to be involved because I sure couldn't do it by myself. Something that would push and deepen my faith and trust in God. So I kept praying and praying and praying. February rolled around and one day I was working, and doing my rounds for what we call "counts", and I saw this table set up and one of their banners really caught my eyes. It went something along the lines of, "You're young, you're single, why not now". Something that God has been showing me during this journey is that I am single for a reason, and he is going to use it, and I need to be intentional with my singleness. I mean I'll never have this time again, where I can just up and move and go wherever God calls. So when I read this banner something in me stirred. But I ignored it and just kept on working, but as I sat back in my room God wouldn't leave me alone and wouldn't let me shake it. So I whispered to my friend, "Will you go to this table set up near the doors and find out more info for me?" Well she did, and she came back and told me that this group sends people to China for a year!! At first I was like, "well then that's not for me, because I've never thought of China and I'm still in school. Oh well." But then I remembered my prayer. I wanted to step out in faith in a big way, right? What is one year of school? I can always come back and finish! What is really stopping me from just following God's call and going! So I printed out the application that night, made an appointment to meet with one of their recruiters, and filled out the application the next morning! The next afternoon I was at Chick-fil-a with one of my friends, and all the sudden someone taps me on the shoulder and I look up and someone said, "Sarah right? I met you last night at our table." So she sat at our table and chatted with us for a good 30 minutes! Craziness right? I mean what are the odds?? The next day I went to coffee with other girl at the recruiting table and we had such an awesome and encouraging time and I just felt God there in the process. So I gave her my application, they looked over it that afternoon, interviewed me early that evening and asked me to come to the first part of training. So it looked like I was going to China... it's still so crazy to me! So I went to training camp, and met an AMAZING group of people, including all the staff, and God worked in such new and exciting ways in my heart! That was the mid April, and then last week I found out that I was officially accepted to go to CHINA! So now, I'm sitting in my favorite coffee shop, wondering what God is going to do next, and how I'm going to see him provide for me and for the rest of my new friends! Wondering how I'll ever finish school, but not worrying about it. Wondering who I'm going to meet, how I'm going to be changed, and how the people I meet will change. I'm so excited, and scared, and nervous, and happy, and just about every emotion you can imagine, but mostly I just can't wait to see what God is going to do! How he is going to deepen my love, extend my faith, and grow my character! I feel as though it's so appropriate that my journey of character will end in the journey to China and the journey of faith. If you want more info on my trip feel free to email me (soknudsen2012@gmail.com) or message me on facebook!