ok so...april fools?

my last post (on april 1st) was entitled "getting serious" and yet somehow, i think God decided to play his part in the april fools day pranks!

as many of you know, God has been opening up so many doors for me this year and one of the biggest doors is that i've been able to really start doing a lot under >jp brumfield< in the serve team. i've been learning countless things about outreach, office work, people skills, and just ministry work in general. and i've finally been feeling God cast some vision for me- at least for this season in my life. it's so amazing to watch God take care of those things i was worried and insecure about- only a short time after finally surrendering those worries to Him.

anyway, missions trip apps were due this friday. i was making plans to go to the notary and to the doctor and all that fun stuff. but on thursday night, i sat in on the danville, CA team meeting (to help JP). well, God started messing with my head quite a bit.

"maybe the reason i've been struggling with getting all my funds raised for africa- is because God wants me to be a part of this trip instead."

i was scared to yield to that feeling. so, over the next 16 hrs, i started thinking, praying, worrying, analyzing, fasting, talking with my parents, and with tiffany, and JP... i listed out the reasons i would go on either trip. and the answer became very clear.

as much as i've talked and dreamed and longed to go to africa...i really feel like God wants me in Danville. if i were to go to africa this year, i think it would be too much about me and my desires- the hype of it all. it's AFRICA!
and seeing gabby! being part of many of my friends FIRST experiences on the mission field. i really believe some of them may find that they are called to be full time missionaries while they are in swaziland! this trip is going to be epic!
but if i were to go on that account, it would be more about me than anything. and i know, that during the danville team meeting, as jp talked about the work we'd be doing there, i felt like God was stirring me to be part of it. helping start the SERVE TEAM (a culture of Serve) for one our campuses!!! that's HUGE, too!!!
as hard as it was to switch my plans friday- it's only gotten harder as i've had to tell all the swazi team members about it also. and gabby, and natalie, and everyone. but you know what...it also feels great to know that i'm in God's will.
i really feel like He told me to go to danville. and if that's what He said, then that's what i'll do.
africa is still something so very very huge to me. i want to go there so badly! but i also know that right now the serve team is something that God has placed me in. and that's what i need to be pouring myself into.
God has some major plans for this summer at hpc. seriously...danville, los angeles, india, mozambique, honduras, camp barnabas, mexico, dominican republic, swaziland,...He's sending us out all over the globe!
it doesn't matter where i go- we're all on the same mission. i just wanna do what He tells me to do- even if it's crazy hard.

so God april fooled me. big time.

good one, God.
and i have a feeling it's going to turn out to be AMAZING!

thank you all for reading and for your prayers.
it means soooooooo much!

-tori