“How I Was Called to the Mission Field”
We were asked to write a blog about how we were called to the mission field. Here is my story… I believe it started from the time that I was in my mother’s womb. As I was being formed in my inmost parts, my parents would kneel beside their bed and pray for me; for my future, for whom I would become and all that God would do in and through me. And so began the good work that will one day be completed in me.
Growing up, I consistently had a fascination for people who were living their lives in another country, especially for the purpose that others would know the Truth about Jesus. I thought that being a missionary was one of the scariest and most admirable things one could be in life. At the time, I also thought that God must love those kinds of people more than He loved the average American, or at least that He thought more highly of them. As I have grown in my understanding of my God and Savior, I have come to understand and delight in His complete and all-encompassing love. And my desire for other’s to know love, truth, and life abundant has continued to grow.
When I first heard of the World Race my heart skipped a beat and instantly I thought “I would love to do something like that” and within my next breath the thought became “no, that’s much too adventurous for you”. As you can see, God has been faithful to continue to pull on my heart strings to get me to a place where I am excited about the adventure and trusting Him with the details. He started the process through some journaling this summer as I began to ask Him what was next for my life. He began and continues to change my perspective on the priorities of my life. I now am in the process of understanding that I can count all things as loss except for the sake of knowing Christ and making Him known.
I asked a few questions and then applied thinking; well at least I will step out in faith. I was saying to the Lord, “Hey if you’d like me to go on this trip, I am willing. But if you don’t, I know you will make that clear as well”. Well, I got accepted. And, as they say, the rest is history.
Well sort of. I continue to soften my heart to the Lord and trust Him as he allows me to grow and be stretched in ways that are uncomfortable to me, but ultimately for His glory!!
