Trusting God With My Next Step: Ava’s Story

At the start of the school year, I had no idea what I was going to do after I graduated. All my friends were applying to gap year programs, getting into big universities, and moving to incredible places around the world. I however, hadn’t decided or felt led to any path yet, so I told God I would wait for Him to decide for me. 

One night I remember telling the Lord I wouldn’t make any decision unless it literally stared at me in the face. Weeks were going by, and I hadn’t had a moment yet in which I felt God’s direction. I was starting to get nervous, because if I was going to apply to a gap year program or university, I would’ve had to get started right away! Looking back, I can see how God was planting seeds in my heart long before I understood what He was preparing me for. 

For as long as I can remember, I have felt things deeply. When someone shares their struggles or hardships with me, I often carry their story long after the story is over. When I hear about injustice and hardships, I can’t help but put myself in others’ shoes and feel what these people are feeling. Growing up, I thought I was just overly emotional and sensitive.  

But as the years have gone by, I have begun to see these qualities differently. As my faith continued to grow and I grew in my relationship with Christ, I noticed a pattern. Time and time again, I found myself especially drawn to stories of women facing difficult circumstances. Whether they were struggling with poverty, exploitation, or other challenges, I felt a deep compassion for them.  

God has used many experiences in my life to shape my heart, and one of the most significant has been attending Green Bay Camp. For me, Camp has been a place where I’ve been able to grow in my faith and turn Christianity into my personal faith. It was where I learned to recognize God's voice, trust His guidance, and develop a deeper understanding of His love for people. It was the place where I was baptized as a believer in Christ.  

One event I look forward to every year is FAC's International Weekend, especially the Street Festival. This past November, the weekend focused on "The Hard and Dark Places." It’s incredible to experience all the different cultures, hear about the adventures from the missionaries, and experience the excitement of the projects being shown. I love seeing how God is at work in all corners of His world.  

After the service, my family and I went to the Giving Wall where various global partnerships and international projects are displayed. Every year, I choose a project that helps vulnerable women. Nancy Moore (Interim Missions Pastor) who I didn’t know at the time, approached me and introduced herself, explaining that she was involved with the project I had selected. As she shared about the realities these girls face and the conditions they grow up in, I broke down in tears and felt called to help these hurting, broken women in this dark place.  

Tim Moore came over as well and shared with me that there's a gap semester program in which young people grow in their faith while learning about justice, service, and outreach in communities around the world. This program, called the Justice Semester (JSEM), partners with the organizations WOVEN and For Freedom International to aid women and girls coming from exploitative or vulnerable situations and teach them practical skills to help them make a living.  

In this gap program, I'll be able to learn from pastors, serve the community of Southeast Asia, and witness the works of For Freedom International and WOVEN in the vulnerable girls' lives. When I heard this, I immediately knew this is what God was calling me to do. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 )

Looking back, I can see God’s faithfulness throughout the journey of my post-graduation plans. What was initially a time of uncertainty turned into an opportunity for me to trust Him. When I told God I wouldn’t do anything unless it stared me in the face, I didn’t know if it was something I would experience. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have seen God so evidently in my life.  

I now see my compassion and empathy not as burdens or weaknesses, but as gifts God has given me to further His kingdom. I have been blessed with a tender heart, and I can’t wait to see how God uses it in my life. I am very excited to see how God uses my JSEM experience, and how I can continue to grow and trust in Him! 

Thank you, Ava, for sharing your story! Let’s pray for Ava as she prepares and goes. If you’d like to support Ava as she steps into what’s ahead for her with Jesus, donate here.