Z.A., 2021

In 12/19/19 I was 22yrs old, and shared about preparing for the October 2020 mission trip to 11 countries. I shared on my former job and the degree I graduated with. I think it was a good intro. But, it’s been 2 years.

My new about me:

My name is Janice Knight-Nieves, I’m 24. I’m a Latina Dominican / Puerto-Rican born and raised in Delaware (first state; flat state).

I was a “church” girl saved at 16. Went from hating to loving - from anger to joy - rescued by my Savior to live in peace but also in war. 

The plan was to go to 11 countries, but God had a different plan, and boy, was it better.

Chicago, Wisconsin, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, and South Africa instead of Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia. 

I wrote in 12/19/19 “This is a time where I'm discovering a lot about God and a lot about myself, and I see that this opportunity to leave my home for the October 2020 World Race is a beautiful way to grow in my area of trusting, waiting, hoping, taking heart and being strong in the Lord (Psalm 27:14). I'm excited to serve and to work for the Lord even more outside of my comfort zone; to see with my own eyes what the Lord is doing in countries I've only seen through the internet and social media. I believe I will taste and see more of the Lord's goodness through this journey.”

9/26/2021

My heart was in the right place, and my idea of this trip was a good one, but it didn’t go as I thought. I finished my Race. I grew in ways I never expected and realized that the focus was not only on how I poured into the ministry in each country, but in how I let God pour into me and grow me. I mattered on this trip. All of me, even the ugly that I wanted to hide, God wanted to bring up, and refine. Growing in my identity and receiving what He had for, instead of only focusing on how and what ways to serve and give myself.

If you’d like to read more about how God worked in my life, here are a few of my blogs that you can click on:

What Is He Asking You to Surrender , Much revealed in quarantine , Life in the Jungle: feeling forced , It’s the climb , The Interpreter pt. 2: I am who He says I am  & God speaks: being imparted pt.2  

If you’re reading this and are searching for answers, wanting to grow in your relationship or understanding of God... or you’re considering doing the World Race, Gap Year, any trip on A.I.M, or a long trip like this, all I ask is that you follow His voice. That still, small voice... through prayer, scripture, and mentor ship/encouragement from people who care about your spiritual growth.

Much love,

J