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Route Reflection

When I lived in New York I had the incredible pleasure of serving in a wonderful neighborhood in Queens called Jackson Heights. 167 languages and counting are spoken on those streets and many gather in diversity plaza on any given day from hundreds of nations! I taught ESL and my classroom would fill with people from all over like Bangladesh, India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Ecuador, Guatemala, etc. As cheesy as this sounds, they were learning from me but I learned SO much more from them in a way!

As they learned English through the Bible, I picked up a few words and sayings from all of their native languages. I worked in hospitality as a career before teaching ESL but they welcomed me into their homes and blew the word hospitality out of the water! They worked and studied rigorously in my citizenship prep class while I studied them as people and began to understand more and more of their backgrounds and beliefs. I loved each and every one of them so much but their welcoming love towards me would move me to tears at times. The relationships and the seeds planted were far and wide and all the glory to God for that!!

When I felt the Lord calling me back to the mission field I started reflecting and processing my time in New York. There are 3 route options for 11n11 and as much as going is a step of obedience, going where God has called you is just as important. I was really stuck between 2 routes – Global South & Pacific Rim. I spent lots of time in prayer over both of these trips knowing they’re both going to do astonishing things for the Kingdom of God but also knowing God had a specific route for me. Quite honestly I feel like I wanted to pick Global South at first glance on my own but it wasn’t about what I wanted, it was about where He has called me.

When I submitted to that, the Lord revealed that the Pacific Rim Route is where I should go and I couldn’t feel more ecstatic about it!! As my reflection time revealed, He prepared my heart specifically for this trip. The Lord has guided me and shaped me, revealing more and more of His character to me. Those lessons from God and my experiences in New York have paved a way for this mission. I know that I will feel out of my depth at times but just like the Lord planted seeds with those I taught in ESL class, he has planted little nuggets of information and truth I can use while I walk in obedience on this route. We were not made to do this alone and I’m so grateful for that! I simply lay down my life to you, Jesus, and ask that you continue to walk me through this life. 

Specifically our route will have 4 main “hubs” – Nicaragua, Ecuador, Thailand, and Cambodia. From there our leaders will then make the best decision based on our ministry partners need and that could take us to: Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador, Belize, Honduras, Columbia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam.

Anyone that knows me or been in a car with me, you know I love Lindy & The Circuit Riders worship music. One song lately has just been on repeat and I unashamedly scream worship this song daily. The whole song is such a strong cry to our Lord but honestly it’s the first verse that hooks me…

 

“The glory of God our highest prize

We will run this race with zero compromise

Gripped with love, we can’t ignore the need

Of the earth that waits in longing for the glory of our King”

 

I encourage you to take a minute, listen to it, worship our God, and meditate on the words that there is an earth that waits in longing for the glory of our King!! I couldn’t be more on fire to go to the nations and share that!! I encourage you to pray over the ways that you can do your part to meet that need as well, of an earth that waits in longing!  

Thank you for following my journey and supporting me in the way the Lord has called me. 

– Nicole