Into the glorious unknown...: September 2011

Ok. I think I'm finally ready to share with you all what has been happening these past few months. This is a big step and one that I am so happy to be getting out in the open and making official.

Let me first share with you a little of the journey that God has taken me on this past year. God is good and God is faithful and even when we don't feel Him and don't think we see Him moving and working, he is there by our side, before us, and behind us guiding and directing our footsteps. This past year has been one quite frankly of frustration, and to be honest I'm just at the beginnings of seeing the blessings of this past year. I am at the beginnings of seeing His pattern and design through the stretching, and through the refining of His lessons, His revelation. Praise God!

God has given me a holy discontent with human trafficking as you might well know already, and when I felt the Lord leading me back to Minnesota after MTS last year I dove right into the anti-trafficking movement here in the Twin Cities, or at least tried to. God has blessed me with great opportunities with some great organizations here, but nothing seemed to pan out no matter how hard I pursued or persisted. It seemed that there was door after door closed on me, and to be honest I kind of got used to dead ends.

This past spring I was meditating on the fact that no matter how much I networked, Minnesota seemed to be a closed door for me, and that it was time for me to move on. Around this time I received an email from a girl I had been in contact with at Adventures in Missions World Race, it wasn't even a personal email it was just a mass email to, I would guess an email list. But it was enough to get me to say "oh yeah, I wonder what routes are going out this year", and look at the website. A little background here: I had checked out the World Race last summer becuase they were doing a human trafficking edition of their trip, but as much as I wanted to go I felt the Lord clearly say "wait" so I did.

Anyway, so I looked at the race routes and something in me said, "yes, this is it". The countries one particular route was going to were countries that I have been thinking about, praying for and wondering if I could possibly make a home there. So I filled out an application completely expecting the door to close like all the other times, but this time the doors flung wide open. There were some particular circumstances that I thought would be a deal breaker, but God made a way where there seemed to be no way! Now I am walking through those doors and its a little terrifying if I were completely honest, but I am learning to trust in God's provision and rest in his will. I know that God will provide the $15,000 and I know that he will provide the strength and I know that he will be with me every step of the way, and there with me to face each new day.

I'm calling this a scouting trip. This is a trip to see what the Lord has for me and to see if I "fit" into one place better than all the rest. I am excited to see the Lord narrow down my passion for anti-human trafficking and see how he has created me uniquely to fight this injustice for His glory. I am ready to experience all that he has for me! GLORY!

The World Race is an 11 month trip to 11 countries, so basically we will be staying in each country for a month and do various types of ministry working with other ministries and contacts in these countries. The types of ministry will be anything from teaching english, VBS, community development, etc. Once I know more about when I leave (sometime in january) and where we will be going at what time I will be sure to blog that information. The countries I will more than likely be going to are listed in the last blogpost (Wanderlust for Jesus).

I really need and desire your support. I need a team of people to surround me with their prayers as I go on this adventure. If you are willing to commit to pray for me while I am on this trip I would be very grateful, and I would also like to pray for you all while I'm preparing and traveling so please send me your requests as well!

Also, I must raise $15,000 in order to go on the World Race, which covers all of my expenses on the field. If you are interested, or are lead to support me financially in this next step, the financial support can be given as a one-time gift or as monthly donation, wherein you choose the amount and beginning and end date. If 50 people pledge $25 a month for 12 months, I would have 100 percent of the funds necessary for my trip.

If you would prefer to make your donation online, you may do so by visiting my blog site at : http://leahjohnson.theworldrace.org/. Just click the “Support Me” link in the upper left side of the page and complete your donation as instructed. This will be the blog I update on a regular basis while on the trip.

If you would prefer to send your support, please make checks payable to Adventures In Missions with a note allocating the funds to Leah Johnson, and send to Adventures In Missions, PO Box 534470, Atlanta, GA,30353-4470.