RACE was a great experience of trusting the Lord and letting go of my comfort zone. The Lord has laid a real desire to serve Him as He leads, and when Angeline and Timothy 'spied' out the land of Cameroon and brought back wonderful reports of God's work there and huge opportunities to serve by reaching out to unreached people, my heart just drew me to these people, especially to the Fulbe Muslim women.
The Lord has given me wonderful years in the past befriending and discipling women, and I am so available for Him to use me in any way He chooses. We have been going to prayer meetings with World Team missionaries for a while now here in Three Hills and meeting with missionaries from Cameroon who are home on furlough.
Since I am divorced, I just never thought that the Lord would be able to use me again as my heart desired in reaching the lost and mentoring new believers, but I was encouraged to attend RACE and see what God may have in store for me.
I prayed a lot about it, and then Daniel's wife (she is a flight attendant for WestJet) gave us all buddy passes to fly anywhere WestJet flies to use for our vacation this summer. Well, I spent a lot of time looking for somewhere to holiday, but in the end, there was nowhere we as a family were really excited about going.
However, when I looked into flying to Pennsylvania to attend RACE this summer, I found that not only could we fly to Newark, NJ using the Buddy passes, but that someone from RACE would be glad to pick us up at the airport and take us to the World Team headquarters.
I had immediate peace and joy about this, as did the family, so Angeline and I each applied separately to RACE and were both accepted to attend. Timothy and Rachel came along and were kept busy seeing sights in Philadelphia and attending a few of the meetings at the beginning and end.
I feel like Abraham - I am following the Lord's leading step by step. I understand how Sarah and Abraham must have felt when they considered the obstacles and yet chose to believe God's promises. Yes, I am weak, but He is strong.
WT used references, psychological and Bible testing, interviews with us and others, a few days of group projects with the other applicants (the assessors sat in the room taking notes and assessing our contributions and responses in various stressful situations/simulations), and also a half-hour time slot each when we gave our testimony and were asked probing questions. In the end, Angeline and I were among those who were accepted as World Team members and commissioned in a beautiful time of prayer for the mission field.
I am so humbled and excited as I walk with the Lord step by step. What a privilege it will be to be able to walk and talk and spend time with these dear Muslim women, sharing my beautiful Jesus with them - one day we will walk together as sisters in Jesus. God's ways are past finding out!
The Fulbe are a nomadic Muslim group, so as they come to know and trust in Jesus, they will be able to spread His love and gospel to many others as they travel across Africa. Oh to be a part of spreading His love and hope! The time is short, and my years are fleeting, but with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years.
Well, sorry this is such a long note. I just wanted to let you all know what God is doing in my heart and life, and I guess I got a bit carried away.
Angeline feels called to work with the Baka in Cameroon, and Rachel, Timothy, and I feel drawn to the Fulbe, also in Cameroon. Please let me know if you'd like to receive my prayer letters. I'd love to be able to continue to share with you how God is working and leading.
Love,
Winona
