I have to be honest, leadership is never something I wanted for myself. And Uganda isn't somewhere I ever pictured myself coming back to.
But I am SO thankful that the Lord knows better, and that his plans are way better than my own.
I went on the World Race in July 2011. Toward the end of my race,God kept putting this whole leading a Passport trip thing on my mind. But I was terrified. So I kept ignoring it and dreaming of what my life in America would look like. I had all these plans for my life, and they were my plans. I wasn't considering God's, but he had much different things coming my way.
I got home in June 2012 and every few weeks, I felt God telling me to do this. But I don't think I ever told anyone and was still just as terrified and continued to ignore God. I've never really lead anything in my life. I was always the kid who tried to blend in, never wanted any attention, never really talked, hated big groups, etc. But on my race I found so much freedom. I found my voice and I walked away from my experience with so much confidence in the Lord and who He says that I am and I let go of so much fear that was controlling my life. So why I was running away from this I have no idea. The enemy was placing so many lies in my head about how I couldn't do it and how I would fail miserably.
It was great being home. But as the months went on, every door I tried to open was slammed shut. I was applying and interviewing for jobs weekly and nothing ever came to and be and it didn't make sense. I became frustrated, annoyed, and even a little mad. I decided to go back to my old job part time for the Christmas season just so I could be making some money and I was miserable. Loved the people I worked with but I knew deep down there was something so much better for me out there.
A few weeks before Christmas on our world race alumni page someone posted something about needing passport leaders. I felt like my heart dropped. Here it was again so clearly laid out. So I decided to take the weekend to really pray about because honestly before I never really did that. That following Monday morning one of my best friends who works in the office who had no idea what I was considering sent me a simple text that said, "Julie….passport…" I died laughing, and decided to take the leap of faith having no idea what would happen. I interviewed a few days later and was accepted a few days before Christmas!
Since deciding to go for it, the Lord has confirmed over and over and over and over again that this is where I'm suppossed to be and how dumb it was for me to run from his plans. Looking back I am so thankful that all those doors were shut, even though at the time I felt like they were the perfect jobs for me. God is so funny. I am thankful that He loves me enough to push me into new things. I am growing so much leading this wonderful team. They are challenging me and pushing me even further in my walk with the Lord. I am daily in awe that He chose me for this job. That He trusts me. That He is proud of me.
So that's my story of how I got here in a nutshell and a little bit of my heart. I don't claim to have it all together as a leader. But I'm learning and growing everyday. God is good and faithful. I love everything about being here and what He is doing in my heart. I can't wait to see what He does in these next 3 months!
