January 1, 2017 at 2:01 am I woke up and realized something. I wasn't doing anything with my life. I had left an abusive situation at college and run to Colorado to recover mentally.
I'd found an amazing job working at a Christmas store then switched to Housekeeping at the YMCA of the Rockies. There I was able to see what a safe and healthy work environment looked like. That night God called me. He asked me what I was doing with my life. I said, "Well nothing right now." And that's when God asked me the coolest question. "Do you want to do something for Me with your life?"
That's a pretty awesome question right?? At first I laughed and said, "Why not?" Then He asked for commitment. I agreed, "Ok God. I'll give you 365 days. For 1 year I will do everything you ask without questioning it. From there it was fairly simple. Whatever God asked, I did.
I looked into volunteering for a month. Just a month somewhere in the world. That much I could handle. After searching hundreds of programs all around the world my heart skipped a beat and I heard the voice of God loud and clear. "There." On my computer screen was an christian orphanage in Kathmandu, Nepal. Funny story, I had no idea where that was. So I literally nodded and said, "Okay, I'm going to Nepal... Now where exactly is Nepal again??"
The next week, I went to Puerto Rico with a friend. No mission work, simply a get away. There I found peace. Going to Puerto Rico was vital to my relationship with God. Why? Because He showed me that following Him isn't always charging into war zones or natural disasters. Following God means peace in your heart no matter where He leads you.
While I was in Puerto Rico, God woke me up in the middle of the night again. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't fall asleep again. In frustration I prayed, "What the heck God? What do you want?" He said, "Go buy your ticket to Nepal." I was confused and a little cranky. "Are you serious God? That's what this is about? I'll buy my ticket when I get home." God said, "No, buy it now." Trust me I tried to go to sleep and ignore God. As you can imagine it didn't work.
Finally I get my computer (I had brought it to work on my classes) and look at tickets. The ticket price had dropped $400... Needless to say, I apologized to God and bought my ticket. Returning to Colorado I started to mentally prepare for my trip to Nepal. (Which is between China and India if you were wondering.)
I returned from Puerto Rico with new meaning to my life. I didn't know where I was going this year or what I was doing but I knew it had to be good because God was in charge. My tickets were for March and the closer the date got, the more excited I became. I was ready. At least I thought I was ready.
Just one thing made me nervous... China. Now this country has a very special place in my heart and has since I was 4 years old. When my mom picked me up from school one day I asked her, "Mom do you know that the kids in China can't learn about Jesus? Mom that's wrong." My mother replied, "Yes it is wrong." At 4 years old I told her with the determination of a mule, "Mom, I'm gonna go to China one day. I'm gonna tell them about Jesus." My mother had tried to calm me down a little, "Well Darby, we can pray for them. That's good too." I rejected it sternly, "No mom! I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go mom." Ask my mother and she'll tell you she started letting me go that day. She gave me back to God.
Of course life had gotten in the way of who God had called me to be at 4 years old. Too many people had either laughed at the idea of me being a missionary or they had put fear in my heart. 'It's too dangerous.' 'You can't go alone'. Then I found horses and realized I had a gift with training them.
Suddenly the focus was no longer God, but a life with horses and maybe God could be in it as long as He didn't ask too much. Though that path was necessary and ultimately brought me closer to God, it was full of violence, tragedy, and suffering. No wonder I was terrified to go on my first mission trip... alone...
Of course I wasn't alone, literally and figuratively. I flew from Denver to San Francisco, no big deal. But as I waiting for the ticket counter to open in San Francisco, I saw two women who looked like they were from India or at least that part of the world. (what did I know I'd only been to America and Canada).
Anyway, they looked lost or confused at least. God said, "Go." I was like, 'uh no thanks God I'm good.' Then God said, "Really you'd drop everything to go to Nepal for me but when I ask you to go speak to two women you refuse me?" Needless to say, I got up and walked over muttering under my breath that they probably didn't even speak English.
They didn't by the way. Speak much English. But that didn't stop God. Between phrasebooks and some phone calls to their family, I learned that one of the women was on their way to Kathmandu. And we had the exact. same. itinerary... (Oh I forgot to mention I saw this woman in Denver when I was checking in on my flight).
So we basically teamed up. We became great friends and everyone who talked with us thought we were family. Together we got through China and finally Kathmandu, Nepal. One week at the orphanage and I knew that God was spot on. He knew exactly what I loved to do even if I didn't.
One day during church God told me to put together a Christ Conference. Still committed to my year with God, I did. And it was incredible. Sure it was small scale only about 45 people but it was powerful. Soon after returning from Nepal, I realized that horses were not in my future. It was coming time to give up my baby girl. My horse Sonador whom I'd raised and trained from a yearling. She was going to be the ultimate sacrifice I'd have to make.
During this time of transformation, I was searching for my next mission trip. This time I wanted more. 5 weeks seemed long on paper but living it had been incredibly short. I decided 3 months sounded right for the next trip. Maybe I'd build up to longer trips. Again I searched. I went to friends and family, churches, and dug through the internet.
As I searched God showed me the ugly truth about our world. The slavery that still exists. And honestly, I was furious. I took it personally. How dare someone manipulate others into servitude and slavery? I actively researched products before I bought them. Refusing to support the monsters building their kingdom on slavery.
That's when I found Seeds of Hope Costa Rica. The moment I saw their mission statement, God said, "There. That's where you're going." I should also mention that both my grandmother and my mom had said God was calling me to Costa Rica. (Before I ever found Seeds).
And that was that. No need to look further. Just sell all you have and go. So I went. 3 months turned into 6. And just before the end of 2017, God gave me my next project. I look forward to sharing it with you in the future. Right now I've got a lot of work to do. The world isn't going to change itself, it needs God as the beacon in the darkness.
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