So as I was walking down Bayshore, I felt a tug to write in the “about me” section. So, here I am. So, you wanna know about me? Lynsey Dawson.
Some of you may know me as daughter, niece, cousin, granddaughter, friend, athletic trainer, professional colleague, missions trip leader, safety leader, Radiant Church member, etc. But how many of you know me as a missionary?
See, we all have our “identities”. For most of my life, I have had 2. Professionally, I am the athletic trainer. The one who loves her job and shows up for her athletes and the community to serve them through any sports medicine needs. Personally, first off, I am a Christian. A Daughter to the Most High King. Secondly, I am a missionary.
God gave me that heart for the nations. I had my first out of the country missions experience when I was 15. I went to Mexico with my youth group. I remember coming back feeling so grateful for what I had in the United States. I also came back with an awareness. As soon as I had the chance, I signed up for my next missions trip through my church. It was a trip for all ages and you had to be at least 17 years old to go. So as one of the youngest on the trip, I went to Honduras. I left a piece of my heart in that country with those people that really made God’s purpose light up in me. I remember coming home and telling my parents, “I think I want to to be a missionary.” How do you think any parent would respond after hearing their 17 year old daughter say she wanted to move away from her family and country to preach the gospel? God placed a passion inside of me and I got a taste of it starting in high school and I wanted more.
I graduated high school and chose to continue my softball career at a small Christian university in Anderson, Indiana. Not only did I get my Bachelors Degree in athletic training and met some amazing people and friends there, I had opportunities to continue to explore my passion for missions. Through Anderson University (AU)’s TRI-S program, I served in: Dominican Republic, Peru, London, Romania and Hungary.
After I graduated AU, in natural order, it was time to find a job in my career field. I was excited to work and gain experience as an independent, certified athletic trainer. I started out at an internship at the University of Tampa, where not only did I gain excellent professional experience, but fell in love with a city that would ultimately become my home. After the internship, I accepted my first job back in Indiana as their one and only athletic trainer. Bedford North Lawrence High School (BNL). I was blessed to have met some amazing people and worked with incredible athletes (some of those athletes I am still friends with today.) After four years at BNL, I felt the Lord tugging at my heart again. I begin to feel unsettled. There I was, a single 27 year old with her dog, professionally going great, but personally was struggling to find myself in a small Indiana town. I missed traveling. I missed the “mission work type feeling”. After a lot of praying, reading and consulting with mentors and pastors at my church in Bloomington, I stumbled across the World Race’s website. (Thank you Bethany!) As soon as I watched their introductory video, I knew I found what God was leading me towards. A ministry where I can go get my missions fill and its appealing to the parents that their daughter is leaving the United States for a year. This all happened in the summer, I applied, interviewed and accepted onto the World Race July 2012 in August of 2011. The fall of 2011, I knew was my last school year at BNL. I knew this was all apart of God’s plan for me because by the time June 2012, I was fully funded for the World Race. All $15,500.
For some of you who are not aware, the world race (WR) is a 11 months 11 countries missions trip ran by Adventures in Missions. I was on 2nd generation G squad. It’s amazing to be on a squad of 30 something 21-34 years olds, and every one walks away with a different experience. My WR experience was instrumental in not only God’s purpose for my life, but for my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I began to understand His voice, His character, the Spirit. The WR began my journey of walking in a life of a disciple of Christ. For those who are interested, my route was: Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Romania, Moldova, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya.
After the race, there was a lot of transition and as much as AIM tried their best to prepare us for re-entry back to the states, my re-entry was particularly rough. I had a year where I didn’t work as an athletic trainer. I was living with my parents, nursing from back surgery and working at a local pizza restaurant. But I found the God gems in that season. The WR taught me about intentional quiet times. That was a year I had some revolutionary moments with God. By the end of that year though, I missed my job. Couldn’t find any full time positions in Georgia that gave me peace, and then I met up a former UT student at a conference in Atlanta that helped me with a job connection down in Tampa and the rest is history. I always told God that I wanted to be back in Tampa, and by golly, He made it happen.
So, here I am. Sitting in MY home that I OWN in Tampa, Florida. I love my home, Tampa, my church community, and my job; however, 2020 happened and it brought more into my life than just COVID. (however I have not been tested positive for it). In March 2020, in one of my quiet times, I felt the Lord say, “one more year at Plant.” I didn’t know what that meant at the time. Thought I would be moving on to another AT job in maybe a college setting. It wasn’t till fall of 2020 when I felt that peace from God that it was time. Time to transition from full time athletic training to full time ministry overseas.
I am so blessed that God brought Scott and Jennifer Esposito and their ministry REAP Granada into my life. For the past 5 years (minus 2020), I have traveled back to Nicaragua to serve in Granada. 3 of those years I have led serve teams from my church. I have made so many friendships and found community right there in Granada. So with this transition, as hard and so many “I can’t believe this is finally happening” moments, I know I am moving to Granada to serve with a ministry that has become community to me. I am so excited for this part of my chapter As a single 36 year old woman, if God is going to have me single, I want to live my days doing what He wants me to do. He led me to Plant High School as their athletic trainer for the past 6 years and I have worked with some incredible coaches, admin, athletes and their parents. I have developed professional relationships with some amazing physicians and physical therapists. Things I look back on, and it was all God in the making on how I got there and what I got to experience. And now, it’s time to experience life when I obediently say yes and follow God to Granada, Nicaragua.
Dare to join me and find out?
