My Transition… Semesters to Gap Year

Hey everyone! I just wanted to inform all of you what has been going on these past couple of months due to COVID-19. There has been a lot of emotions, lots of questioning, lots of waiting, and many prayers during this time. As hard as this is for me to say, about a month ago I received news from my mission’s advisor that my trip to Swaziland and South Africa has been cancelled. In just 22 days, I was supposed to fly out to Atlanta, GA for training camp and on June 1^st, my squad and I were supposed to be headed out of the country to serve for 2 months (first month in Swaziland and second month in South Africa). Since last year, I have been preparing, fundraising, and getting close to the girls on my squad. And although most see this as terrible news, most of you don’t know the true blessing and story behind this news. So here we go…

Before COVID-19 started spreading and getting worse, I was on a call with my mission’s advisor, Ronny, talking about all the possibilities if my mission trip were to be cancelled. He said he wasn’t sure, but it was very likely that it could be called off and asked me what I wanted to do. My two options were to either switch to a later mission trip that would be later on in the year or be refunded for all the money that was fundraised for this trip. Of course, I decided to switch mission trips, but I wasn’t sure which one God was calling me to. Ronny suggested Gap Year, which is a 9-month program for teens ages 18-20. I did consider it, but I shut it down pretty quick when I realized how long this was and I let my fear take over… After talking more with Ronny, he said to just pray about it before I made any decisions. So, that’s exactly what I did. I prayed over this trip, constantly, for direction, a decision, and to trust this waiting game… and until I heard God’s voice and felt His hand lead me to the right application, I waited.

So, one day God gave me that confirmation, and I took the leap of faith. I emailed Ronny about Gap Year and just a couple weeks later, I got a call from him. On April 30^th, 2020 (almost a week ago) Ronny told me I had been accepted into Gap Year, no application or interviews needed, and the one route I had been leaning towards was full, BUT they made the exception to letting me in! It was such great news y’all!!! The one route I had been felt called towards was completely full and applications were ending today (May 6, 2020). But, where I felt God taking me, what we talked about, He led me there. On Gap Year, for 9 months, launching from Atlanta, GA, to Eswatini, to South Africa, to Ethiopia, to Cambodia! This is called the Indian Ocean Route and I will be gone from September 2020- May 2021. None of you expected that did ya?! But wait, there’s more!

Some of you did know I was praying about this decision and started considering it, and a lot said, “Really? Nine months is a really long time. Think you can handle that?” Another huge question I have been receiving is, “How are you going to do college? Will you be taking a year off?” To answer those questions, I am going to be very vulnerable and honest with all of you about how I’ve been feeling during this time. It has been scary, emotional, hard, but exciting all at the same time. Telling my family and friends that I will be leaving has been the most difficult. I will be missing my sister’s graduation, birthday’s, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, pretty much everything. I am dropping out of college for a year, I will be unemployed, I won’t see my family, friends, boyfriend, and church for basically a whole year, and there’s so much more. Yes, I can call and text, but I physically can’t be with any of my people. So yes, this has taken a lot of prayer, thought, and time to make this decision. 

Many are scared for me to leave and don’t want me to. Some even think I am crazy for even wanting to do something like this, and ask, “Jamie, why?” So, I say this… I have prayed for God to lead me, guide me, direct me, and take me wherever He wants me to go. To live out loud for Him, not for anyone else. No matter how hard, how scary, how confusing it may be, to take me where I am meant to go. I have prayed, “God if I have to give up EVERYTHING to do your will, to reach people, help them seek you, feel your love, feel your presence, and know who you are, I am all in. Whatever happens I will trust you, because I know my life is in your hands.” But still, this week has been challenging as people doubt, question, and try to change my mind. Today, I opened my bible up to 2 Corinthians 4: 15-18 which reads, “And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So, we don’t look at the troubles we can see now, rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 

I feel that this is an honor, to be called by God to go out across the seas, all over the world, to spread His light to people. That I don’t have to be doing what everyone else my age is doing right now. Go to college, sit in that classroom, finish those assignments, get that degree, and go to work. Dreaming of the day I will be able to reach my goals. Saying I wish I could do this, or I wish I could do that. I feel that I am meant for so much more and I wanted God to use me. I want to help others. Do more for His Kingdom, but I wondered how I could do that. So, I prayed. I prayed and prayed God would show me what my next step would be, and I would take it. He took me one way, taught me many things as I prepared for my two-month trip, helped me grow, trust, and learn how to completely put everything in His hands. I learned I could do anything I set my mind to as long as I had God by my side, I learned that God supplies my every need, I experienced my first miracle, and so much more. And here I am, I got my answer. 

He has told me, you know, this was all meant to happen, this transition. Because God revealed a million beautiful things to me. He told me that life doesn’t have to make sense. His word says in Proverbs 20: 24, “The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” So, I go. I go trusting, believing, and breathing along by God’s side to the place He has sent me. 

And as I finish this blog, I just want to say thank you for all of your support, prayers and love throughout my journey. This is so exciting, and I would love to get everyone more involved! So feel free to ask me any questionsJ I love you all and I pray my story has inspired you in some way. 

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. We have plans, but He has bigger plans for you. So, acknowledge Him in all your ways and He shall direct your path. Let him lead you… go forth and do great things for God.”      

Blessings, Jamie Schroeder