We were asked to write a blog about how we were
called to this mission trip. Here is my story…
It’s a funny thing, looking back on your life.
I became a Christian when I was around 7 years old. I hadn’t really made any
logical or rational approaches to my faith, but was convinced that it was the
right thing to do and I left it at that. I’ve gone through a lot since then,
and every step of the way has profoundly shaped who I am today (I would assume
that’s the case for anyone). But I’ll tell you my story by rewinding about 5
years. As a 17 year old, I was very ignorant. I would say that my faith in God
was really me scaring myself into doing ‘good’ things for God. Looking back I
was super judgmental and legalistic, and ultimately nothing I did was ‘good’ because
I did it all with selfish motives. I would never have believed I would be doing any type of mission work. I thought, maybe, I would go to Africa for a week or
two or something, and even then, God would have to LITERALLY tell me.
Funny, He’s been literally telling me my whole
life, but it’s just been in His way, not mine! Though I am still, to this day,
very ignorant of who God is and who He has made me to be, He has graciously and
faithfully opened up my mind and heart to see glimpses of Him and who He is.
College has been a fabulous influence on my faith. I’ve been taught how to
really read the Bible, I’ve been taught how to love, and I’ve been taught how
to listen. I say taught, because with us humans, it’s a process. I’m slowly but
surely learning these things–falling and failing in the most epic of ways. But, with that He’s showed me that where there is sin, there is grace all the
more abounding! A great quote (because, naturally, I’d have a quote in this…)
is from C.S. Lewis, “I want not my idea of God, but God… so that I might come
to misunderstand a little less completely.” I love this, and this is what I’m
trying to do.
Since going to college, I’ve been humbled big
time, and I’ve seen that it will never be about me, but about Him who works in
me! Such a CRAZY thing to learn! So, how did I get here? Well, as I stated in
my bio, I make very big decisions without realizing just how formidable they
really are, until I’m committed. My college years have shown me that I love
people, and that I want/need to serve and learn about people. I toyed with the
idea of the Peace Corp, but for some reason it never stuck (I don’t think my
parents were too keen on the idea, too). Then, I was at work at Bittersweet
Pool sitting next to a very dear friend of my, Mr. Dan VanDerWal (WR October
2008). He told me about how he was going on the World Race. I was super pumped
for him, and I knew it was going to be such a great thing for him. It never crossed my mind that the World Race would be something for me. Then, when he was in Hong Kong in January, we talked on
Skype. He said, “Meg, you should really do this! I think you’d love it.” So,
what did I do? I started the application the next day! And here I am. Every
day, it hits me that I’ve made a VERY BIG decision, but more than the anxiety
and worry that I stares me in the face, my adrenaline starts pumping and I get the most
giddy feeling that keeps me going! I am so excited to serve and love on God’s people while at the
same time being immersed into new and exciting cultures where I will see the
face of God in new way! I want to tell the people I meet about the hope I’ve found
in my most gracious, heavenly Father!
