Five years ago I was a graphic designer, and even though I loved my job I knew I didn’t want to do it the rest of my life. While searching on-line I found a Missionary Boot Camp in Northern Costa Rica. It seemed like the perfect way to get real mission experience. I prayed about it for years before actually setting the date for when I was going. I was so excited about it that one of my friends decided that he wanted to go as well. Though I was excited about the opportunity I had a feeling that there was something else I should be doing. I prayed about it fervently. I prayed that God would open and shut the doors of where He wanted me. That happened when I sent in the application and received no response. I contacted the organization many times, but nothin
g happened. My friend, on the other hand, was contacted and told the next steps. I was at a loss until I talked to a friend who said that a camp that we had visited the January before was in need of counselors. When we had visited I had a deep longing to be apart of their ministry. It was a camp that was partially devoted to inner city kids from NYC and partially devoted to disabled adults and children. When I heard about the ministry I wanted to participate as a counselor, but put it out of my mind because I had planned on going to Costa Rica. I decided to call the camp and check it out. Immediately I was set in a process to becoming a counselor. I believe that God closed the door of one good opportunity to open the door of an even better opportunity. The summer ended up being the hardest summer I have ever endured, but the best summer I have ever had!
I believe that God still speaks today. God gave me the desire to go to the Missionary Boot Camp for a reason. Because of my desire and passion for the Boot Camp, my friend became aware of it and ended up going. It was a hard summer for him, but because of it God has lead him to have a desire for medical missions. He is now in school for nursing. God also taught me to listen to Him. It was a very hard decision for me to make because I had wanted to go to the missionary boot camp for so long, but the friendships I made and the things I learned that summer at camp were exactly what I needed and where God wanted me to be.
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. –Psalms 16:7-8
