I went on my first international mission trip when I was a sophomore in college. I met a little girl named Fanny and spent every possible moment with her and her family. Her mother was sick and couldn’t leave the house, so I would pull up a plastic bucket next to her bed and color with the girls all day long. This way mom was a part of the festivities.
Never in my life had I experienced such urgency to share the gospel as I had with Fanny and her family. I ached for them to believe in His peace, His grace and more importantly, His sacrifice and resurrection. I was surrounded by nothing familiar and couldn’t have looked stranger with my nice clothes and white skin, but I belonged in that house. It felt more natural being there with them than anywhere I had ever been before. When I left, I boarded the bus and could do nothing but pray. I knew this trip had forever changed my passions and redefined my purpose.
Less than two years later I had another opportunity to serve overseas. While spending a summer abroad in Spain, the Lord brought two dear friends into my life: Allison and Tyler. We had toured all around Spain together. Learning what it was to be Americans in a foreign country, talking about missions, and discovering our mutual love for Latin America. Tyler kept talking about his love for Peru specifically, and how much he wanted us to come on one of his mission trips to this orphanage in the jungle. Frankly, as much as I trusted Tyler, I thought that he’d lost his mind. I wasn’t exactly jungle material. The Lord’s plans were a little different than my own however, so a year and a half later, Allison and I were jungle bound with deet and chacos. 🙂
Prior to this trip I had never had any interest in leaving the United States permanently, never particularly liked children, and was easily intimidated by tasks outside my comfort zone. After that trip to Peru though, and the 6 that shortly followed, I was changed. I learned what it meant to truly be a new creation in Christ as I discovered a new confidence and talents that I never knew I possessed. Tucked away in the middle of the Amazon jungle are 42 children that have captured my heart. Each journey down there brings James 1:27 to life as the orphans I’m called to care for aren’t just children, but friends. They are unique, with different personalities, interests, idiosyncrasies and dreams. I want so badly to give them the hope and love that Christ has given me. I want to radiate with Christ’s love to the point that they hunger for it and seek after it themselves.
It was these relationships that have triggered my desire to serve overseas and go on the World Race. I want to testify to God’s grace across all nations, not just in Peru. I have a hard time explaining how I was “called” to the mission field. I wasn’t called, but commanded. Making disciples of the nations wasn’t an option; it was and is my duty as a believer. So, off I joyfully go.
