I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.
~Mother Teresa
I guess I should begin by giving you a little background information, for those that don't already know me. I was born in Phoenix, Arizona to the most incredible family I could ever ask for. Thankfully we only lived in AZ for a short time and I have spent most of my life in Atlanta, GA (the place that I call home once again). Most importantly, the Lord chose me to be the daughter of an incredible mother and father, and little sister to an amazing brother and sister. I could not be more thankful for the family I have been blessed with, and if it were not for their influence on my life, I would not be the woman of God I am today. My family raised me in the church and has always been very active in the ministry. At a very young age I developed a fervent passion for missions and it quickly became evident that I desired nothing more for my future. While my college friends were browsing for engagement rings and talking about babies, I would fall asleep dreaming about the Lord using me to bring His kingdom here on Earth. I graduated high school early and headed to college with plans to become a medical missionary, but the Lord had other plans for me.
Also while in college, I was faced with several medical conditions that caused many struggles, but again shaped me into the person I am today. In my last semester, I discovered that I had a heart condition causing me to pass out and suffer multiple concussions. I suffered from slight amnesia, and because I could no longer read my Spanish textbooks, I was forced to drop most of my classes. I spent a great deal of time in bed, in the darkness, and fighting for hope. During this time, He was my only hope. As cliché as it may sound, He was my light in the darkness. He was my strength and hope, and kept me fighting when I only wanted to give up. By the end of the semester, I was better than ever thanks to the faithfulness and healing power of our Father. That summer I traveled to Seville, Spain to finish my degree, and to my surprise, my ability to speak, understand, and read Spanish was restored to an even greater potential than I possessed before my illness. From that time on, I have been thankful for His gift and used it to translate in clinics, tutor families, and translate for many bible studies and mission trips. I feel like I should also mention that in Spain I met the true love of my life. His name is Pepino, and he is undoubtedly the cutest thing I have ever seen! I saw him at a gypsy market and simply couldn't leave without him, so now he brings joy to my life every day!
Before leaving for Spain, the Lord also blessed me with an incredible and unexpected gift. He blessed me with a job teaching high school Spanish at Greater Atlanta Christian School. It was a job I did not deserve, and although it was not my passion or intended plan in life, His calling could not have been more clear; so, I followed. Teaching high school at GACS was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I was given the opportunity to coach the girl's softball team, translate for mission trips, and spend every day with the most incredible teenagers I have ever met. I can only pray that the Lord used me to touch their lives as much as they have touched mine.
After two years of teaching, leaving GACS was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. I would be lying if I said I didn't miss it terribly still, and I am thankfully still blessed to be a part of many of the student's lives. However, yet again, the Lord had different plans.
I left GAC in May of this year, and the in-between time has probably been another one of the most challenging times of my life. I didn't discover the Lord's plans until recently, so for a number of months I felt like I was living aimlessly trying to hold on to every ounce of hope. I knew He had a plan for me, I just didn't know how or when to take the next step. I now work as a waitress, overworked and underpaid, but I am thankful for the challenge. Struggling to pay rent and bills every week reminds me of how blessed I have always been. It reminds me that we are so comfortable in our lives that we often forget the rest of the world is daily struggling just to make it by, just to survive. I have been blessed to take part in over 20 mission trips, but at the end, I always come home. For most of the world, there is no escape. For most of the world, there is not freedom from illness, poverty, or even slavery. I don't know about you, but I'm not okay with that. I believe that every challenge I have faced, every miracle I have witnessed, and every blessing I have been given has prepared me for this time in my life where I have now been called to go out into the world and tell the Father's children about the freedom and hope they can find in Him. I'm nervous, and I have several fears just as anyone would, but I am ready to leave the comfort of my home, my family, my friends, my precious puppy, and all that I have known as reality and life to make a difference in this world. Elizabeth Seaton worded it perfectly when she said, "Live simply that others might simply live."
I would be honored for you to join me on this journey, and although it is over 8 months away, I am already falling asleep with dreams and hopes for my future and God's plans on this expedition. I anxiously await the posts where I can reveal the many works He is doing around the world, but until that time, may we all strive to live daily in His mission, serving others, teaching them of His love, and never forgetting the words of the Lord in Habakkuk 1:5…
"Look at the nations and watch–and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told!"
In His great love,
Amanda
