My Story: Part IV

Here is the conclusion of “my story” and how God has lead me to the place I’m at today. Of course our story is never completely finished. He continues to work on us and through us throughout our life. But this is the conclusion of how I came to be returning to China:

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Here is a journal entry I wrote just over a year ago:

November 22, 2010

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."    (Isaiah 55:8-9) 

This is a verse I have to remind myself often about. The way that God works and how His thoughts are not my thoughts. I have also had a revelation. It's funny how dreams change. My dream job all through college was to work at an international adoption agency. I never once wavered from that goal. But as time has gone on, I have developed new dreams, goals, and passions. It hit me finally the other day what my new dream was. Jeff asked me what my dreams and goals were. Yes, God has given me a heart for orphans and adoption and before I thought it was going to be in an agency in the states working on paperwork and helping families through the adoption process.  But after being in China, it just clicked. I would love to do what so many volunteers in China do. Promoting orphan awareness as well as playing with the kids,  formula project, and anything else they need me to do. Advocating for the orphans and speaking on behalf of them. Being the voice for those who have none. That is what I would love to do.

When I read that on THIS November 22, 2011, it blew me away. I had no idea that a year from when I wrote that entry, I would be in the process of returning to China. To do that very thing that I was describing in my journal. Ever since returning from China in May 2010, I knew God was calling me overseas. Honestly didn’t know if it would be China again, but just knew it was overseas and would involve orphan care. So when in August 2011, when I felt God place “New Day South” on my heart, I wasn’t really that surprised. But again, had no idea if there was even a need for what my dreams and goals were and the vision I saw myself doing. Also when I returned in 1 1/2 years ago, I really didn’t think that I would be going through ND again. Not that I didn’t want too, I just wanted to go where there was a greater need. But I wouldn’t know unless I asked right? So I sent and email to the director of ND who forwarded my email to the ND South director. And the email I received a few days later, blew my mind. They were indeed thinking and praying recently about bringing in this exact position I was describing! Is God good or what?! His timing and His plan I always best. Never late, never early, always right on time.

Through all my prayer and confusion and questioning this past year, God made it clear to me on that August 2011 day. That His plan for my life was indeed to return to China. Just in a completely different way than I ever would have thought or expected! I will be returning to China hopefully the end of February 2012 for an indefinite amount of time. I’m going for as long as God calls me there.

So I’m in the process of packing up my life, selling my things, raising support, and moving to the other side of the world to love the orphans and the fatherless. God has such great plans for each of our lives. A verse that He has placed on my heart lately as I raise support is this:

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

God is good. Even in the midst of my anxieties and fears and unknowns of how I’m going to raise the funds I need to live in China, I know He will provide. He wont bring me this far and then allow it not to work out just because of funding. This is something He has “prepared in advance for me to do.” And He will make a way.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying; ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”

~Isaiah 30:21

Anneli