We were asked to write a blog about how we were called to this mission trip. Here is my story…
I’ve always been fascinated with traveling and missions.
My grandparents have had many wonderful opportunities to visit places all over the world. I couldn’t wait for them to get home so I could see pictures from faraway lands, hear stories about different cultures and especially learn what interesting foods they got to try J
I’ve never actually gotten the chance to go to Moldova, but in the summer of 2005 I went on my first mission trip to Romania, which is right next to Moldova. I went with an organization called Royal Servants International (RSI.) It was on this trip that I learned just how much God truly loves me with His agape love and who I am in Christ…
I am:
Deeply loved by God
Completely Forgiven
Fully pleasing
Powerfully equipped
Totally accepted
and
Complete in Christ!
It was exciting to meet believers all the way across the world and to be involved in sharing the love of God through street evangelism, VBS and door-to-door ministry in a couple of villages. At the end of the summer, I knew that my faith in God was truly my own and not just something I learned in Sunday school.
Spring break of 2006 I went with my church youth group to Biloxi, Mississippi to help with hurricane Katrina relief. A song by Casting Crowns called “Praise You in This Storm” really came alive for me while I was there. As I helped knock down walls, put up dry wall and sift through lost treasures I experienced what it meant to praise God through the good times and the bad. People who lost their homes, belongings and even family members still showed joy and were so grateful for any help they got to start try to make their lives “normal” again.
“I’ll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I’ve cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm”
Summer of 2007 I went with RSI to Northern Ireland. I was planning on going as a student to Scotland, but God had bigger and better plans for me. A couple of days before the trip I was asked to lead a discipleship group (D-group) of 5 jr. high/high school age girls. After praying about it I knew that God wanted me to stretch farther out of comfort zone and switch to the Ireland team. I learned to rely on God a lot more that summer for strength, patience, and courage as I ministered to my girls and encouraged them in their own relationships with God. We were able to show love to the Irish people through street evangelism, game nights with the youth and door-to-door ministry around the city.
Summer of 2008 I went with RSI to Romania again. I had planned on going to Turkey that summer, but once again God’s plans were different. About a month before the trip I found out that the plans for Turkey fell through and I’d once again be going to Romania (which I grew to love and really wanted the chance to be able to go back to again someday
J) Although I was a D-group leader again, our team had some pretty different dynamics; we were all pretty close in age and there were way more D-group leaders than students. I was able to learn what true community with fellow believers looks like while being involvedwith English practice, a children’s festival, picking up trash in parks,
and street evangelism.
A couple of years ago I was looking around at different missions organizations just to see what else is out there and came across Adventures In Missions. I read a couple of blogs from people who were currently on The World Race and it seemed really exciting, but I wasn’t old enough and didn’t think I’d actually ever have the chance to do something like it so I quickly forgot about it. Then a few months ago I found the website again under my saved websites. After learning all the info possible about The World Race and reading people’s blogs I thought it would be amazing to actually be able to go and share God’s love with people all over the world. I still didn’t think it would ever be possible because I had college and nursing school to finish and then I’d have to get a job and who knows where my life would take me by then. I secretly wished and prayed that somehow I’d have the chance to do something like it someday though.
At the beginning of the summer I found out that I didn’t get into any nursing schools for this year. I was pretty bummed at first and didn’t know what I was supposed to do. Wait another year and apply for nursing programs next year? Change my major? Do something entirely different? So I prayed and asked God what exactly I was supposed to do now, and he said “Follow Me.” Follow You? Where exactly? What am I supposed to do now? Again He answered “Just follow Me.”
