It has never been my plan to be a part of international missions. I always looked at them as something for other people to do. In college I remember actually signing up for a mission trip and even paying the $250 deposit. But, I knew I didn’t want to go. So I backed out and took the loss on the money, not really though because it went to a great cause. I knew there was a mission field in the states that I would feel more comfortable in and could do a lot for.
As I was prepping for ministry at University I was excited to be able to work in a field that truly changed my life in High School. As I started to work in the Church something didn’t feel right. I was getting discouraged, angry, and tired. I loved teaching people about God, but something was truly off. I honestly couldn’t tell you what it was. I knew their needed to be a change of something. I couldn’t decipherer what needed to be changed.
Then as I was graduating from OCU something started to change in me. We had been hearing about the refugee crisis in the news for some time and it was breaking my heart. I was hearing people say they didn’t want them in America and didn’t want to help them. They made it seem that it was the other side of the worlds problem. But, I wanted to help in anyway. Though I didn’t think it would be on the mission field.
This call to the mission field was heard throughout the summer. Not going to lie I’m pretty sure I heard the call a lot earlier, but I ignored it. I remember the moment though I said, “okay.” I was listening to a mission service at Hollow Rock Holiness Camp meeting. I remember the missionary speaking about just being open to the call and being a willing vessel. It hit me like a ton of bricks falling on my head. I hadn’t been a willing vessel to mission work. Right as he was ending his message I went down to pray, “I’m a willing vessel. If you call, I’ll answer.”
Well He called and as an act of faith I applied to this mission trip. Not totally thinking I’d be accepted, because I was going to grad school. I was wrong. So here I am in the process of preparing and fundraising for this trip. Extremely out of my comfort zone!
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With Love,
Jacob
