#serveseattle

On September 18, 2016, I traveled 2,283 miles to live with a group of strangers and serve the city of Seattle alongside them. I could have never imagined the impact that move would make. 

Serve Seattle is an urban missions program for young adults. In short, we love people with everything we have.

See that picture? Those are a few world changers. Not because they have an overload of money because, let’s face it, we’re all broke. Not because they’re famous or have a high ranking position in a business or the government. Not because they’re all geniuses. 

They are all changing the world because they understand that people deserve to be fully known and fully loved.

When I walked into 1808 18th Avenue, I didn’t know what was going to happen. I honestly thought I’d be with a group of people that were super Christians and had everything figured out. 

Then I heard their stories.

Stories of mental illness, rejection, death, addiction, eating disorders, and broken families. 

At the same time though, I heard stories of hope, love, adoption, healing, life, acceptance, and joy. 

See, in the midst of every single person’s hopelessness, there was Jesus. In the midst of brokenness, there was a relationship that reminded them of their worth. 

Because of that, these people understand how to serve. They understand that over everything, relationships are the most important. 

We built relationships with the people we served and it was no longer us and them but rather it was just us. They became our friends, and when your friend needs you, you help them.

We also built relationships with each other. These people are some of my best friends. 

We walked though hell together. We saw each other at our best and our worst. We prayed together. We cried together. We went on adventures together. 

We did life together.

1808 is more than a house number. 

The Lord said to [Sarah] “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.” 

Genesis 12:1

In November of 2015 the Lord said “I want to venture distant lands with you.” 

In November of 2015 I was absolutely and completely confused.

I remember siting in the backyard of the Mary Martha House at Christ For The Nations Institute petitioning the Lord for an answer. An answer I now know is too complex for me to comprehend. 

I looked up and yelled to the Lord, “What do you want me to do with my life?”

It was quiet, cold, and fairly awkward.

Then this phrase entered my mind, “I want to venture distant lands with you.”

I remember writing it off as if it was some random thought. Then it kept coming up. It seemed like everywhere I looked was an opportunity to travel far away. My desire had always been to travel so it seemed logical that my mind was just voicing my own desire, but then there was a peace. A peace surpassing my understanding. When I though about moving to distant lands, a peace completely covered me until I allowed anxiety to take over. Then there was this thought that leaving my family and friends would result in my life being lonely and unseen, but that was far from the truth.

Once everything happened with my depression and anxiety resulting in my withdrawal from CFNI, things seemed lost. I had to move back home with this word from the Lord saying I would venture distant lands. It didn’t make any sense. Unseen to me in the moment, the Lord was preparing me for Serve Seattle.

Because of my withdrawal from CFNI, my life became open to any opportunity the Lord had for me. I had no schoolwork, no job, honestly, no pressing responsibilities that would hold me back. It was the perfect time to explore the word I had received from the Lord.

What would it look like to venture distant lands with the Creator of it all?

I did what any logical person would do and googled just what exactly “to venture” meant.

Venture: a risky or daring journey or undertaking; dare to do something or go somewhere that may be dangerous or unpleasant.

So the Lord was asking me to go on a risky journey with him? 

Yes. 

The question was, was I up for the adventure?

Then the question hits, “How far are we talking, Lord?”

Well, this time, the Lord didn’t tell me. He didn’t say anything at all actually. But he reminded me of an advertisement I had seen in Relevant Magazine, an opportunity to serve the city of Seattle.

I had actually applied for Serve Seattle my senior year of high school to try and escape Nacogdoches, Texas. Seattle is 36 hours away, and as a teenager ready to run free, Seattle sounded nice.

But that wasn’t what the Lord had for me then. In his sovereignty and perfect timing he was preparing me for now. He was preparing me for September 18, 2016. 

With a word from the Lord and my laptop in hand, I applied for Serve Seattle.

Now, here I am sitting in a coffee shop in Seattle, WA writing this. I believe I have embarked on a risky journey with the Lord. Countless people told me not to do it. They were being realistic, knowing I am still learning to handle my anxiety and depression. They saw the financial challenges that come with just packing up to serve without pay. All I saw, though, was an opportunity to walk in what the Lord spoke over me.

Everyday I can choose to live out the words of the Lord or let my anxiety and depression win.

To be honest, I’ve made it too far for the latter.