As of June 4, 2013, I had been a Christian missionary for one stretching, yet incredible year.

A few days ago, I realized that I had never shared with you why or how I came to be a full-time missionary with Adventures in Missions.

And so the story goes...

I can't believe it.

I never wanted it originally,

but nonetheless, I can't believe it.

I have found that when God speaks, I do.

In fact, is there any other way?

It was two years ago that the gut wrenching process began.

I returned home from the World Race on May 28, 2011 and began to figure out the answer to that lingering question that no one wants to be asked, "what's next?"

I wanted to but for some reason, I didn't have a peace about going back into coaching and teaching, so I didn't.

If I'm to be honest, while praying about "what's next" in the Philippines (Feb. 2011),

God told me "Georgia".

But I didn't want to hear it – I had my mind settled on Texas – I was going to do what I wanted to do.

One day, while working in the yard back on the farm, something unexpected happened.

I saw a vision.

It was way above my head – too big for me to tackle by myself.

"I can't do this," I thought, "this is huge!"

Honestly, I didn't even know where to begin.

But little did I know that I was never by myself, not once.

I saw a picture of me working between American churches and International churches

to create long-term relationships.

We were making a wall together, as if to build one fortress – the global unified body of Christ.

Totally freaked out and not fully understanding why me, I told no one – ever.

My brain was going crazy, my heart about to explode.

Where does a little guy like me start with something so big like this?

"God, until you give me more clarity and direction, I will remain obedient right here.

I'm not moving until You do."

Over the next 7 months, life was insane to say the least.

Through the roller coaster of my life, I was moving forward, but barely as it so often seemed.

I can remember the loneliest of lows, screaming out at the top of my lungs in my apartment,

"God, where are you? You've said 'this and that', but where are you?"

I felt like King David – 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'"

The vision began to float to the back of my mind as I began to feel abandoned on the issue,

almost leaving it behind.

But at the same time, I knew deep down that the vision was of God.

I had completely lost sight of it, but there was still hope.

I can also remember the most high mountaintops where I would lay hands on someone

and their injured back, pneumonia, poisoned blood, knee, etc were healed,

or the days where I felt compelled by God to tell a stranger something and they were in tears by the heart and love of God over their lives.

From the depths of my lonely sin to the heights of living in the Spirit,

His purpose prevailed – it always does.

In January of 2012, I got a phone call.

It was my land lady, Mrs. Gertie Pace.

With sternness in her voice she said,

"Colby, I need you to come down to the house right now."

"Mrs. Gertie, is everything alright?"

"Yeah, everything is just fine. Come on down."

As soon as I stepped into her living room,

she turned the TV off and said "have a seat."

Now I've got to tell you, you know just as well as I do,

when an elderly person turns their TV off and wants to talk, it's serious business.

And on top of that, she said, "have a seat" like I was in the principal's office or something.

I knew it! I thought to myself, "I've done something wrong and I have no idea what it was, but I'm about to get kicked out!"

Mrs. Gertie looked me in the eyes, serious as cancer, and said,

"Colby, last Friday after you came and visited with me, I stayed up all night praying for you.

And when I finally went to sleep, the Lord gave me a dream and told me to tell you."

This wasn't the first time that I had heard of Mrs. Gertie's dreams,

so as things got personal real fast, she had me on the edge of my seat.

Read part two here.

A few of my favorite pictures from this past year: