Ever since I was a little girl and went on my first missions trip in Laredo, Texas my heart has had a passion to help others. I didn’t know exactly what it meant then, in the 5th grade, sobbing standing on the street in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. I spent maybe a dollar or two of my souvenir money to buy these colorful little dolls in cute skirts representing a traditonal Mexican dancers attire. I bought 3 dolls, 1 from each child that was selling them. I was at odds and my mind couldn’t understand WHY were these children (8 years old and younger) alone and selling things in the street, WHY weren’t they at school, WHY were they chewing on orange peels, and WHY were they barefoot and dirty from head to toe. I, 10 years old walked away crying my eyes out not understanding how situations like this existed in our world. My mom and dad by my side comforting me and trying to help me understand how God could allow these children to be in such a sad place. That day I decided with full confidence I was going to be a missionary!
As time went on in my life I had the opportunity to go on a few short term, stateside mission trips. Still with great passion to help people and see their needs met, but not really understanding what it meant to tell people about the good news and what a relationship with him looks like.
I grew up in the church. My dad has been a pastor my whole life, along with both grandparents and various Aunt’s and Uncle’s on both sides of the family. God surrounded me with the church. I knew about God and his love for me, but I didn’t really “know” or fully “experience” that love and relationship until years later.
I went on my first out of the country missions trip in 2011-to Romania. My life was forever changed there. On this trip I finally understood what it meant to give God all of me. All of my problems, pains, struggles and worries. I finally took the faith that had been my parents all those years growing up and “owned it” and believed in the Lord on my own. In that time there I really began to understand who Jesus was and what a genuine relationship with him looked like. I left Romania forever changed and on a mission to seek his kingdom and his will for my life.
Almost 5 years flash forward and here I am today, answering the call to go and reach the “least of these”. I’m so honored that God has trusted me with such an important task. That he has heard my cries and knows my heart and created such passions and desires in me…and now is fulfilling them little by little in his perfect timing!! My life is literally flashing before my eyes and my dreams are coming true in what feels like an instant.
In my moments of weakness and discouragement, feeling unworthy and not at all equipped- God lifted my head and asked:
“So you want to go on the world race?”
“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT
“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”
Hebrews 11:1 NLT
