Hello, my name is Lydia Strickland and I am 20 years old. Since graduating high school over a year ago I have been on five different mission trips to Africa and Haiti. I have felt a calling to go and be a long-term missionary but did not know when, where, or how. I was born in Albany, GA, and I grew up in Canton, Georgia. I have two loving parents and three siblings–two older and one younger. When I was a freshman in high school I went on my first mission trip out of the country to Haiti. When I arrived in the county I had no idea the beauty that God had made on that Island, but the people were broken and hurting. That made my heart hurt for them. I helped with VBS that week and saw many little girls the age of three carrying their baby brothers or sisters for miles barefoot to come to VBS. Even though they carried their sibling for miles, the only thing I saw was overflowing joy and happiness with what little they had. After that week it made me think, “How can they stay so happy in such hard circumstances but I can’t stay happy in all the comfort I have at home?” The comfort is what was making me complacent. I had created a rut for myself in the comfort and warmth in my comfort zone. As one of my teachers always said; “There is no growth in a comfort zone and no comfort in a growth zone.” so I had to step out of my comfort zone and when I did, I found more joy and peace in God. every time I go overseas I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to share the joy that I have in Christ with the hopeless.
I have always loved working with kids and babies, one of my passions is working with special needs children. Another passion of mine is music from playing the piano to leading worship or even taking my ukulele to Africa all of this brings me such joy. I also love sewing and doing art, Art has always been my outlet to express my emotions. God has given me the spiritual gift of discernment and I am very thankful for this gift.
When I was six my grandmother was diagnosed with brain cancer, she was my everything and an amazing Godly woman. Through the year after her surgery, we would visit and take care of her even more. I wondered why my mom was so strong and happy through this hard time, I realized that my mom hung on to God for her strength and joy. I knew if my mom could get through that with God then if I accepted Him I would be able to get through anything. On Easter that year my grandmother went to her heavenly home and was suffering no more. Then the sophomore year of high school I was angry with God for taking her away from me. It took me a while to let God show me that one of the reasons he took her from me is to be able to stand on my faith in God, not on hers. Then junior year I was very depressed and one night I was leading worship for a school trip and felt the holy spirit fill the room. A peace flooded over me and I have never felt so loved and peace-filled, at that moment I surrendered my depression to him. That night was the beginning of a new walk with God and it has not been easy but I keep climbing.
One thing God has been teaching me this year is to be bold for him, I have always struggled with sharing my story with those around me. God has given me a voice for him and I am trying to find it so I can share it with others. Something I want to get out of the year to come is; finding my voice in him and overcoming my fear of failure.
Two months ago the Lord reminded me through a friend about the World Race. The more I researched, the more I knew this is what God has called me to. I have for a long time have known that I was called to missions and the World Race will give me the tools to do so. I am so excited to see how God shapes and molds me on this trip and the new friendships that will be made. One thing you can be praying for is that God gives me the strength to step out of my comfort zone and also that my team while we will be bringing light to the darkest places. Thank you for reading, blessings Lydia S.
