We seriously have to love the way God works. The decision to not go on the June World Race was a really hard one. Don't get me wrong, I realized as soon as I emailed Seth and Serena that this was what God wanted me to do, but the human part of me felt like I was going to miss out on so much; something so big. So everytime I read the blogs from the World Racers out there right now, my heart kind of sighs. However, the reason why I did not feel I was to go on this particular trip was because since I was about 12, I have been really sick off and on-stomach stuff and just feeling really tired all the time. So finally fed up with not feeling great all the time, I booked an appointment with a Naturopathic Doctor. This kind of doctor looks into alternative medicines. I know it sounds a little scary and new age, but I received my verbal confirmation that I was not to go.

This is going to sound silly now that I write it, but I was asking God to just have someone tell me that I was not to go on this trip. I have said it before and I will say it again, sometimes I can be an indecisive person, never really sure of what I should be doing. A part of me was wondering if I was just getting a little worried and scared, which is why I felt that I shouldn't be going. I knew in my heart that something was not right about it, but we all need to just be told at times. I mean, really, it got to a point where I just did not want to talk about it anymore because I could not believe what a big deal it was turning into. So I kept thinking, if I just had someone tell me no, it would be easier to handle.

So back to the doctor appointment today. After we were finishing up, she said the results for one of my tests generally take about 2 weeks to return, though lately they have been coming back as fast as a week. I told her that I was hoping they would return early because I leave for Mexico 2 weeks from tomorrow. I told her it was for a missions project and she said that sounded like fun and then continued with "well as long as you are not going to Africa". My mom and I just looked at each other and kind of laughed, you know that oh-my-gosh-did-you-just-hear-what-she-said kind of laugh. That was what I had been waiting for. A perfect stranger who did not know me personally (besides my medical history), that I should not be going there. She said if I was to go I would not be able to fight off the type of parasites that we would encounter-and she was talking about the ones that Canada and the US can identify.

Now please don't get me wrong, God keeps us safe and protects us and shields us from evil, but the fact that she said I shouldn't be going was kind of the closure of a personal journey that has been going on since I was accepted to the World Race on December 4. This decision was something I really wrestled with. I kind of wasn't even feeling really excited about England because it wasn't in the jungle or a small village that no one had heard of. Of course now, I know how silly this all sounds. God needs us
everywhere, hence why the World Race is such an amazing concept. But right now,

I know that I am to go to England and serve him there, with others who are committed to doing his will. I just think that it is really cool how God still gave me that answer I was looking for, though I had already committed myself to England. Situations like this always make me grow up spiritually; they remind me of how big God is and how in control he is. It is so easy from our day to day lives to believe that we are the ones with all of the power. Yet, we belong in the hands of our Saviour. We belong on our knees, worshipping the one who has molded each and everyone of us into the people we are today.

Praise God for just humbling me today and reminding me of who I serve.

Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have.

Margaret Mead