How I was Called to the Mission Field

My Background: I was blessed with an encouraging, supportive family and knew Jesus at a very young age. I grew up in a small church and was surrounded by community. I have always had a passion for serving others and God as provided many amazing opportunities to grow my relationship with my Savior, glorify my God, and share the Good News.  I accepted Christ when I was 14, but fell in love with Him when I was 20. Now, I am 24 and striving everyday to fall more and more in love with my Savior.  

~Habakkuk 2:3           

My Journey: I lost my daddy to cancer, at the age of 13. But, through it all, I watched one of God’s greatest servants choose not to give in, but glorify His Father’s name until he took his last breath on October 22, 1998. I have now come to place in my life that I can be thankful for the experience. It does not mean I miss him any less, but it definitely brought me to Jesus and it has made my relationship with my Heavenly Father so much sweeter. 

            “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and he shall direct your path”

~Proverbs 3:5-6

My second year in college was challenging to say the least, and I struggled with depression. I can honestly say I experienced the dark night of the soul. I felt like I couldn’t get out of this funk and that God apparently didn’t want to do anything about it – regardless of how much I cried out to him.   I had reached the utter depths, there was no light at the end of the tunnel, and I felt like I was spiraling out of control. My life had become all about me. But, through God’s grace, He carried me through it all.

            “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”

~Psalm 40:1-3

This past year has been another spiritual milestone in my life and has transformed my entire being and it has brought me to endeavor this crazy adventure called, The World Race. Several years ago, God laid it upon my heart to go on a mission trip and for many reasons I kept telling God, “I am not ready”. I was very faithful in reading my bible, praying, and fellowshipping with other Christians, but I could always feel something was missing; something was gnawing on my heart. But, unfortunately I am a little stubborn and it took losing almost everything dear to me to finally wake me up and smell the coffee; it took one of my best friends telling me, “You are not glorifying God by just sitting in this rut that YOU have created for yourself”; and it took stepping out of my comfort zone to truly see God’s plan. While I don’t have everything figured out, I’m climbing along, learning and maturing in my faith. So, when God asked this summer for me to “GO”…I said, “YES”!!!!! 

            “GO YE THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST: TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU: AND, LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD.”

~Matthew 28: 19-20

My Present State: I do know that I love the Lord and I love people and I want them to know Him. But, most importantly, I do not want to make this trip about me. I know that God will use me and I will return radically changed, but my focus is to not let my own selfish agenda get in the way of God’s great plan for this trip. The purpose of this trip is to further advance God’s Kingdom, to take part in fulfilling the Great Commission. That being said, I’m very excited and I’m really looking forward to this experience. It’s a little overwhelming to think about getting from here to being ready to pack it up and ship out for a year. Thank goodness God already knows how it’s all going to happen! I can’t wait to travel the world on God’s terms, meet some amazing people, and experience the next piece of God’s plan.

            “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the LORD Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

~Acts 20:24