What Lead to This Decision

 I'm going to give the whole story here as a sort of background as to where I'm going now. When I was a senior in High School I joined a program called Americorps. It's kindof like a Red Cross program. You volunteer to help in disaster areas and in turn they give you money for college. It was a horribly long application process. Well, after six months I hadn't heard anything so I buckled down and decided to go to college. While attending LMC I was looking into larger colleges to transfer to for a degree in Social Work. I then heard from Americorps. They wanted me to leave the NEXT day! Being the mature adult I was I quit my job, dropped my classes, then broke the news to my parents. You can imagine how well that went. :p Long story short, I stayed home. I was lucky enough to get my job back and be allowed back into my classes without a problem. 

I continue looking for a college and find one that would be perfect. College of the Ozarks. This college is for students who need financial help. You work on campus to pay your tuition. It is Christian based and in a different state; everything I was looking for.  I applied. When I finally heard from them I was told that I was on the bottom of the waitlist. My heart dropped. I couldn't understand why God would allow every door that I find to close in my face.

As all this was going on I started to realize that while I did the whole "church" thing, I didn't have that connection I desperately desired with God. I prayed. That's all I could do, and finally I had that "2x4" moment where it feels like you were smacked in the face. God had bigger plans for my life. I was doing what every other teenager does. Graduate, go to college, find a job they hate, graduate from college, and continue to another job that they thought they'd love but can't stand.

I felt it on my heart to do missions. I have a crazy desire to change the world and I can't control it. While doing some research on missionaries I came across a program called Youth With A Mission (YWAM). I took my time, prayed about it, had others pray for me, talked to my parents, and finally decided to apply. It seemed like ages before I heard from them but I had been accepted to do mission work in Australia! I immediately started fundraising. I sent out support letters, tried to talk at a couple churches (all of which wanted nothing to do with it) and hosted a Night of Worship. Long story short, I didn't raise the amount of money I needed so I was stuck again. It broke my heart. Why wouldn't God provide when I knew it was what He wanted me to do with my life, when it was to bring Him glory? It took some time but I realized that missions was still my calling so I tried again. I applied for a different YWAM program and I KNOW this is where He wants me. Since being accepted, He has blessed me with a second job, a church family that is behind me 100%, and almost all the means to get there.

The end of May I will be going to Colorado to attend a "discipleship training school." (DTS) There I will get to dig into God's word like never before, see His majesty by camping under the stars, and be surrounded by God-fearing people. We will learn how to "make disciples of all nations" and pray about where we will travel to.

I will return to Michigan the middle of August, but my journey will not be over. I will intern with a local church and be actively involved in the community. I will also be raising even more money. I have been guaranteed both of my jobs back and all the money I make there will go towards the second half of the trip. The team and I will be traveling to Southeast Asia where we will get to work with the local missionaries in the orphanages and schools. I have a hard time believing that God wouldn't want me there. It is perfect. Sharing His word in orphanages all over the world! Wanting to be a social worker that specializes with kids....ya. It explains itself.

As you can imagine, I am swamped with things I need to do. I still have to raise about $4,000. That is the hardest part. I have been blessed with friends, family, and churches that have been willing to donate to me. I can't even put into words how much their support means to me. More importantly though, people from all over the world have been praying for me. At last count I have people from 15 different countries praying for me. You cannot possibly imagine how awesome of a feeling that is. It's like nothing I've ever felt. I have this incredible sense of peace and security. God is so good to us, and He provides when it is truly His will.

I really appreciate your support on this journey I'm facing. As cliche as that sounds, I mean it. I would not be able to do this if it weren't for the people standing behind me with God as my leader. There's a song I love and it says "I know who walks before me, I know who stands behind, the God of angel armies is always by my side." Each and every person that prays for me, donates to me, and even the ones that are just curious about my life are my army.

  

God Bless,

Dianna Pickard