The first blog I wrote was titled “I had plans but His were better”. This is the daily roller coaster the Lord has taken me on. I am a huge planner. I like to have things figured out in advance and have all the details worked out in my head. God stripped me of that on the race. I had no idea what the next country was going to be like; where I was staying, who my team was, what we did. I had to trust that everything would work out exactly as it was supposed to. I had expectations about the next place, but I could never plan exactly what then next few months would look like. The race forced me into a season of being flexible and accepting of change. I really had to trust the Lord in every big and small thing.
There was one thing I did have control over… Life after the race
I planned for what my life was going to look like after the race. I thought and dreamed about what was next until God commanded me to stop and to focus on where He had me currently on the Race. Little did I know, He was waiting until Africa to present me with an opportunity He had been preparing me for the last 6 months of the race.
In Malaysia, God stirred up a passion for human-trafficking in me. He gave me the opportunity to visit prostitutes and talk to them every Wednesday night for two months. I developed relationships with them and my heart broke for them constantly. I struggle to describe how heavily the injustice of human-trafficking weighs on my heart.
In Africa, one of my leaders shared with me more about a program through Adventure in Missions called Center for Global Action (CGA). This program is 8 months long from September-May in Gainesville, Georgia. Apprentices in CGA live and grow with other World Race alumni. They get discipleship and leadership training. Each apprentice of the program chooses their own track (like a major). I had heard about it before. CGA sounded awesome, but I wasn’t really interested in any of the tracks they had to offer. That was until my leader told me about the brand new Liberation track coming this fall. In this track, apprentices “learn how to combat the injustice of sexual exploitation through prevention, rescue, and restoration.”
This definitely stirred something in me but factors like being away from home and fundraising again worried me. I already had plans to go back to school in the fall to work towards a degree. I spent the last year away from home. I wasn’t really ready to leave again, even if it was just 7 hours away.
My leader encouraged me to apply even if I wasn’t sure just yet. When I was able to get internet, I did apply. There was a war going on within me. I spent a lot of time in prayer over it. Within two days I had my interview and my nerves were sky-high! I decided that if I was accepted that I would pursue that path. I felt a lot of peace in that. I knew that if this was of the Lord, I would feel confirmation in my heart… and I sure did!
A week later I was accepted to be an apprentice in CGA for 2016-2017!!!
What does this mean for me now??
Well…
-My move in date is September 17th!
-Classes start September 28th
-I have to raise a total of $8,650 before February 16th
-To be able to move in on September 17th, I need to have at least $3,000 in my CGA account.
Please prayerfully consider donating towards this next season of my life, but most importantly, please keep me in your prayers!
I am far from worried about this next season of my life. I am more excited than ever!!
Thank you for your continued support of my race and beyond! I could not have made it without all of the prayers and love that everyone has been sending my way.
My new blog will be brisears.adventurescga.org where I will be posting blogs while I’m in Georgia
