My name is Mariah and I am 20 years old. I am a girl who loves Jesus, coffee, and people so passionately.
I feel God has graced me with the heart and passion for missions. I am so thankful to be a part of the missionary life and that He placed my dreams and desires in this specific calling.
Growing up, I always wanted to travel and explore the world. My senior year of high school, I had one of few interactions about missions with my uncle (who was her boyfriend at the time). He straight up looked at me and told me I was gonna be a missionary as I was walking up the stairs and to be honest, I thought he was crazy because that was also the very first time I ever met him in person, so I didn’t really care in the moment.
Something happened, though. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It crossed my mind so much and I didn’t understand why until God kept confirming that He was calling me to the mission field overseas. I had a feeling my life was going to change…and it did.
After many more encounters with Holy Spirit, almost every day, He showed me, taught me, equipped me, and helped me to see that this was the plan He has for my life. I began to wonder what was going to come and how God was going to use me through this.
In 2018, I was given the opportunity to go on my VERY FIRST mission trip to Rwanda, Africa aka HOME!!! This trip helped me grow so much more than I thought I would and transformed my heart in ways I thought weren’t possible. I was able to catch a glimpse and taste a part of the missionary life. I wanted more. I didn’t know when the next mission trip would be until the next year.
The next year, which was this year, God made a way for me to go on three mission trips this summer. I went to Ensenada, Mexico; Orosi, Costa Rica, and back home to Rwanda, Africa. All three stretched me out of my comfort zone in different ways. I thought I was changed the from the very first trip, but these three changed me even more. There’s just something about being in His creation WITH His creations – people and all – that I just love and adore.
Starting next year, in January 2020, I am partnering not only with Jesus, but the World Race Semesters group to Cambodia and Thailand for THREE MONTHS. I am soooooo excited!!!!!!! I mean, how could I not be? I have the privilege of going to two more countries, which is also gonna be the second continent I’ve visited. He is definitely blessing me beyond what I’ve ever expected.
I am so thankful and words cannot express how overwhelmed I am by the amount of love and favor He has poured out on me this season, especially with the WR. This is just a little glimpse of my life and I hope you enjoyed reading this. God bless you!
