The Story - part 2

That Thursday (Valentine's Day!), after I had the audacity to offer this dare to the Lord of heaven and Earth, I went about my day.  After work I went to church for worship team practice and youth group.  As I was setting up my guitar for practice, I noticed an envelope with my name on it taped to the pulpit.  I stuck it in my folder, figuring it was information on Mali Ms. Faith had left there for me.
I opened the envelope after I got home that night.  Inside was an application for a US passport and a check for $100 - my next step!  I was flabbergasted.  God had taken me up on my dare.
God had spoken to me. 
Like in a for-real, tangible, I'm-actually-holding-His-directions-in-my-hand way.
I cried myself to sleep that night, I was so full of joy at the goodness of my Lord.  I fully believe He would have given me that next step at that time regardless of anything I would have said or done.  But He allowed me to test Him to prove how faithful He is, how He listens to me, how much He loves me.
(The passport I needed in order to get to Mali cost $135.  He had so graciously provided the first $100 - all I needed was $35 more.  When I was first told I was going to Mali I had mentally dedicated some money I was saving for something else to the trip.  I pulled the jar down that Thurs. night, even though I knew I didn't need to count it.  Including the money I had added to it from getting paid that day before I went to church, the jar contained $36.29.  Is God not good or what?!)
So.  At that point I knew I was leaving the country.  That was what the Lord told me.  I filled out the form and sent it off on Feb. 21.  I just got my passport yesterday - less than 2 weeks!
But while my birth certificate was being processed in D.C., I put my feelers out again.  I called Jean Viers again until I talked to her.  If Mali settles down, the Shelby church will be going in January or February of next year.  Whenever they go, I'll be with them. :)  She gave me plenty of good information - the go-ahead for shots, cost, prayers, etc. 
Next January/February is a long time away.  Mama suggested that I look into a shorter, smaller missions trip in the meantime.  At the direction of the savvy Amy Myers I emailed Dian Harner.
Bob and Dian Harner are the Missions Mobilizers of our district of the C&MA.  I just wrote them asking to be informed whenever they had any trips in the works, in case it worked out that I could go.  Mrs. Harner wrote me back with several wonderful ideas.  She suggested I join the CD 100, a group of young people from the Central District who are serious about missions as a career or feel the call and need help channelling their passion.  I'm in the process of filling out the application right now and will hopefully be sending that off within the next week.
She also told me about a trip to Spain during the All-Africa Field Forum.  From what I can gather, the CMA missionaries from Africa will come up to Spain for this conference.  They wanted kids from the CD 100 to come do childcare during for this week in November.  However, since it's in Nov., most of the CD 100 members are not able to go due to being in school.  Would I be interested, even thought I'm not yet a member? (um, yeah!  I'm graduating!  I have all the time in the world!  My life is wide open!  This is Godsend #1 in this trip.)  This trip will be a great opportunity, says Mrs. Harner, to rub shoulders with the missionaries stationed in Africa - to learn about what they do and to possibly go back with them. (Are you even remotely kidding me?!  That's where I want to end up anyway!  Godsend #2, folks!)
Needless to say, God told me to go to Spain Nov. 16-23.  As of now I'm filling out profiles, recruiting pray-ers, and writing out testimonies. 
Now for those of you who read missionary biographies, this may sound like everything else you've ever read.  (Our God, thankfully, is really in the business of doing this sort of thing.)  But I never, ever, EVER expected I'd be able to tell this story about myself.  I feel like I'm living someone else's life - like my life totally began again when He first called me to this journey!  It still hasn't quite sunk in - that I'm really going to do this.  And yet it's the most real thing that's ever happened.  Nothing has ever been so definite.  His voice is so clear.  I feel like a little kid!  I wake up every day excited to see what He's going to say next.
The next several months will be chaotic and joyful and miraculous and challenging.  Thanks for reading the back story . . . I'm so grateful to be making this journey with each of you.