Many of us like to have our lives figured out so that we know what’s coming next. Quite often I like to take control of my life and make plans for what I think is best for me. It’s a lot more comforting when we have plans because we know what’s coming next and where we belong. But where is God in all of that planning? When we make all the plans, it doesn’t leave much room for God to work. It doesn’t require much faith if we have everything planned out.
God brought me to Gainesville, GA for leadership training last fall, where I learned so much more about who He is and who He has created me to be. It was such an amazing time of growth and stretching. I never imagined living in Georgia so that in itself was stretching! Diving into this amazing community was such a blessing and I was able to be involved with the Special Olympics bowling team. I have always had a heart for people with special needs and Gainesville has a very large community of these wonderful people.
I had felt God calling me back to Gainesville, but wasn’t sure why. All I had coming back was a place to live for 3 months, a car, and the “sense” that I should be back here. I had a lot of anxiety not knowing where I would be working but I knew I was called to be in this community a bit longer. I formed a plan in my mind to cling onto to comfort myself. I was going to find a Starbucks job, enjoy the community, and drive my car back home in 3 months. In my mind, that was very do-able.
Three days after I arrived back in Gainesville, I received a job offer to work at Adventures in Missions in the Short-Term Department. The position is a CRM (Customer Relations Manager) and with this position I will get to manage and mobilize teams going on short-term trips all around the country as well as in 17 different countries around the world. As a part of the job, I will be able to lead some of these trips throughout this year. I am very excited about this position, but got very anxious when I learned that it was a yearlong commitment. A year wasn’t a part of MY plan. But as I prayed about it, God gave me the peace I needed to see that He had a much better plan for me and that I would have to trust Him. To have the opportunity to do a job like this, I was willing to have the faith in God that He would take care of me.
Since this position is part of a bigger ministry at Adventures in Missions, I will be fundraising a part of my salary. I have the opportunity to be a part of a ministry that sends out several hundred on the World Race, hundreds on Passport (college-age mission trips), and we are looking to send out around 2,500 people on short-term mission trips. Would you be willing to partner with me on this journey? First and foremost, I will need prayer for the teams we are sending out. I also am looking for people who would like to partner with me on this journey financially as well. Thank you so much for considering to partner with me! I am so excited to see what God does with this journey!
Where to donate:
Donations can be done as a special gift as well as monthly donations, and can be done online: danaeenglund.theworldrace.org, where you will click on the “support me” tab on the left-hand side. You can also send a check by mail with my name in the memo line:
Adventures in Missions
PO Box 742570
Atlanta, GA 30374-2570
Hi Danae; Blessings on you and best wishes on your latest endeavor! We will be supporting you in prayer and trust you will be able to meet your financial commitments. I missed buying a square, but know that you will be able to utilize whatever is sent your way. We will be following along from home. Stacy was so excited to be able to have a visit with many of her WR squad members, albiet a short one. Hugs to you from all of us!