Dear friends,
It has
been 5 months since I have been accepted onto the World Race. These last few
months have been exciting, stressful and faith- growing. I have seen the Lord
provide financially for my trip for World Race, which has been awesome,
especially since I had become super stressed and overwhelmed back in January
about all I needed to do.
The
last two months have been difficult with trying to focus on Nursing school and
be successful in my studies as well as prepare for World Race and transition
into all the changes that would come with it. At one point, early in the
semester, I realized I needed to put more focus and attention on my schooling
and put preparing for World Race aside for a little while.
What
does this mean?
Firstly, I would like to thank each one of you for your support, whether
that be in your giving financially or through your support in prayer. I am
beyond grateful to experience the support and excitement of friends and family
and am overwhelmed and encouraged though it. With much prayer and guidance from
the Lord, close friends and family, I’m sad to say that the door for me with
World Race is closing.
Let me
share with you a little bit with where I’m at in life right now. Over four
years ago, the Lord revealed to me His will for my life: to be a Nurse and do
missions. I officially began to pursue the first task of Nursing that He gave
me back in 2011 when I started college and have been on a long, challenging and
trusting journey since then - transferring to three different colleges,
applying for Nursing school twice and having delays along the way. It has been
frustrating for me in understanding why the Lord has spread out this journey
for me to be a Nurse, but it has been so beautiful to see Him at work along the
way. He has revealed to me in some areas why: I had to transfer so many times
(making lifelong friendships at the schools I’ve been to), He delayed me by not
getting accepted into the Nursing program the first time I applied (blessing me
with time with my family while they were here stateside from South Africa) and
so many more things.
My goal
was to graduate in July and begin the World Race in September. I have, once
again, hit another delay on my journey towards Nursing. My graduation has been
pushed back to December of 2015 which means this makes it impossible to leave
in September. When I realized things were going to happen this way I went ahead
and switched my trip to a January 2016 trip. As I continued to look at how
everything would play out with Nursing and rushing onto the World Race, I
realized I needed to really pray about things. Over a period of three weeks I
was beginning to realize the Lord was asking me to delay missions and finish
the task He had first assigned me by continuing to be persistent and not give
up because things were getting too tough.
I am sad
there has been a change and delay in my journey, but honestly it is such a God
thing! I have had so many things on my plate and stretching myself thin, that I
was not able to give the full energy each thing required. Therefore, I was
lacking in being successful in school, relationships and preparing for World
Race which caused a lot of strain and stress in my life. These last four years
the Lord has continually confirmed that I am to be a nurse and I need to finish
that out before my next tasks in life – International Missions. Friends, I am
very guilty and struggle with getting ahead of God and ‘trying’ to make things
happen at the time I feel like they should occur. But He is so patient with me
and ever so gently gets me back on track (sometimes kicking and screaming) and
reveals Himself to me and helps me come to a place of surrender, trust and
faith.
What
happens now to the amount of money that has been raised?
Although the tax deductible money already given is not refundable, it
will still be used for the same purpose it would have been used for me. Be
reassured that through your giving you are allowing other World Racers to stay
on the World Race and experience the Lord in a whole new way and be used by Him
to reach the unreachable – praying for the sick, loving the orphans and widows,
teaching English, ministering to those in sex-trafficking! Think about how
awesome it is that even when we thought our gift giving was going to benefit
me, the Lord had other plans. The Lord is using you in the life of a stranger
to bless them to further His Kingdom! Isn’t this what the Lord has called us to
do? To encourage, support, love and work together as brothers and sisters in
Christ! There is always the possibility that the Lord will re-open the door for
me to do the World Race, but until then I look forward to see how He is going
to use me and grow me with where I am at in life right now!
**If you are on a payment plan - to stop
payments call Donor Relations at:
1.800.881.2461 or e-mail them at: DonaorRelations@adventures.org - It can take up to 2 weeks to process your
request, so don't delay!
Sincerely,
Kelland Windham
