Gosh…..looking back on my life, I realize I have really always had an interest in missions. I mean – I remember when I was little in Sunday School learning about all the different missionaries overseas and always being so fascinated….I wanted to go there, to learn more about them and what they did. I never really knew I would ACTUALLY be doing overseas missions though! I think until my mission trip to Brazil in 2001, it was just that….a fascination….a thought….an interest…..
The mission trip I went on to Brazil was 2 weeks long. We visited a tribe in the indian territory off the Amazon. It was, simply put…….AMAZING. We slept in hammocks and lived on a boat for the entire 2 weeks. It took us over 2 days of travel down the river to even get to the tribe. While there we helped the tribe with basic needs and taught them Bible stories in their own language. I think one of the most beautiful things to see is people of so many different cultures, backgrounds, and languages all coming together to worship our Lord! There were local missionaries that lived there we partnered with and helped. While we were there the chief of the village came to Christ! In short….this trip pretty much did it for me – I didn’t want to leave! My interest turned to PASSION. I couldn’t ignore the fact that God had placed overseas missions on my heart! I didn’t care what I left behind here, I would give it all up to go….wherever.
It has been a long time since Brazil and I have done a lot and pursued a lot since then. After my trip there I pursued some mission opportunities but not a single one of them worked out. I have to admit that I was confused….I really believed that missions was what I was supposed to do – and I thought that if God was calling me to do so, that well…it must be right NOW. Haha….oh my, how I was to grow :). After much prayer and a few situations happening in my life – it was clear to me that yes, God had called me to missions, but not now – not at that very point in my life. So, I made my mission field my work that I did in the states :). A couple years passed and I found myself working a desk job at one of the biggest non-profit Christian organizations, Campus Crusade for Christ. While at Crusade (3 years), I felt the calling on my heart become even stronger. At this point in my life though, I allowed other things to influence my decisions (mostly selfishness) and decided I just couldn’t do overseas missions – WHY you ask….for the SINGLE reason that I did NOT want to raise support. Truly. So instead, I choose to ignore God’s tug on my heart for a time…..can I just tell you how stressful this is – God certainly does not let you forget your calling :).
This past year God has done a number on my heart. I can NO LONGER ignore what I believe He has called me to do. I don’t care that I have to raise support anymore, I don’t care about giving up everything, I don’t care about others thinking I’m crazy…..all I know is that I am doing what I have felt God telling me to do. I don’t always understand His timing and I honestly don’t know what I’ll do after this trip – I am open to wherever and whatever God leads me to. I have never felt God calling me to one specific country but have always wanted to go wherever people are most needed. This trip will allow me that opportunity. I am praying that while on this trip God will continue to give me more vision as to what He would like me to do after this and even where…..but that is a ways away and I shouldn’t worry about that now :). What I DO know is that GOD KNOWS and THAT is ALL that matters to me!! All I want is to GLORIFY HIM…..all I want is to share with others this precious gift of life that He has given us. I want to help care for and show His love to others in different countries – helping with physical needs as well as teaching them more about our Lord. I want him to BREAK ME even more so…….BREAK me so much so that I might be unrecognizable – that others might only see HIM through me instead of my ugly selfish nature. I pray that I would just allow Him to use every part of me…….that is all I want.
- They partner with locals – missionaries and other organizations – in each country we go to. This also means that when we leave the country we are in, those that came to know Christ while we were there and the physical ministry we were helping with – has follow up. The people we will be with are not “left hanging” and on their own. This is SO IMPORTANT and I am excited that AIM acknowledges that and takes action to assure help, discipleship, and mentoring continues to happen even after we leave!
- AIM does a lot of humanitarian aid type ministry – and well, if you know me at all you know that is the main type of ministry I love. I love being hands on and interacting with the people as much as possible.
These two things were major factors for me and I am so excited to be able to join in this ministry!!
