The Brazilian man stood on the stage. About 50 YWAM’ers of all ages were waiting to hear from him. Every few sentences he burst out laughing and randomly threw in a few ‘woohoos.’ My first thought was, “This guy is odd. Is it a culture thing? What does he have to say other than laughing a lot?”

This was near the beginning of my Discipleship Training School (DTS) at the Madrid Youth with a Mission (YWAM) base. Yet again, I was questioning.

‘Why did a 28 year old, with the beginnings of some sort of a career, family, friends, and a great church decide to go almost half way across the world for five months and learn from people she doesn’t know, who speak a different language and have a different culture? Was I crazy?’

Then the Brazilian man said it:

“Do you know who you’re walking with?”

Right then he could’ve just dropped the mic and walked away. He was referring to the fact that we can rest and enjoy life because we are walking with a God who is able, a God of miracles, a God who provides, a God who sees and knows all, and a God who told us to cast our anxieties upon him.

How can I not sit in awe when I read Jesus say he is the light of the world after choosing to not condemn a woman caught in the act of adultery?

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NIV)

This is why I chose to be here. This is why I choose to stay.

I want to better know and love more a God who is forgiving, kind, just, righteous and holy. I want to see His light guiding my path and giving me life.

There are many ways to follow God, to learn, grow and experience Him. This way may not be for everybody. But for me, this is a special time set aside to know God and to make Him known at YWAM. No matter where you are in life, no matter what you are doing, ask yourself:

Do you know who you’re walking with?

Andrea Randolph