Jambo rafiki ( that means hello friend in Swahili),
Welcome to my Philippines missions trip blog! Please bear in mind that this is my very first blog and seeing as I am not accustomed to my thoughts being publicized I may be prone to ramble a bit. You have been warned.
So now some basic information and then some background:
For those who don’t know me my name is Hannah Marie Bergquist. I am a 19 year old high school graduate living near Knoxville, TN. I am not currently in college. Most people I have encountered often ask me why I chose to take a gap year between high school and college . At first I had no response to this because of the reality of my situation. To put in plainly, my dreams and plans and been for 2018-2019 had been squashed. Always the dreamer, I had made plans to attend Belmont University as a music therapy major. I had put in the work, practicing my audition a billion plus times, worked to pay for my own voice lessons. When I was accepted, I praised God for such an opportunity, that finally I would reap what I sowed. That this must be God’s plan. That because I was accepted this what I was supposed to do. This is my right.
BUT GOD. I had made a huge mistake in my heart. I had desired to go Belmont, to make a career, make an impact and to inspire not because that’s where God was calling me but merely because of my own selfishness. Looking back I can see so clearly, no matter what I told myself, I was not going to pursue this career because I wanted to glorify God, but because I wanted TO BE glorified. So you know what God did? He humbled me. He tore me down to the bone. He made it impossible for me to attend.
For those who don’t know Belmont is $46,000 a year. That’s not including books and other fees. Unfortunately they aren’t known for their scholarship awards so I only got 1/4 of the tuition covered. Therefore, every year I was going into over $34,000 of debt. With 6 kids to pay for, my parents couldn’t afford it. We would have to morgage our house just so I could get out the loans to go. So after many tears that dream was set aside till/when God shows me thats what He wants for me. But the reality is, I struggled for months. I felt like I was stuck, while all my friends were off at college or doing something useful I was at home. Day in and day out seemed to be the same. Work, come home, sleep, repeat. I felt alone and purposeless.
I wasn’t alone. I had my loving, patient parents . I had God with me.Even when we were young, my dad has challenged us( his daughters) to be world changers. He continued to press that mentality into me. Find something you love, make a difference but do it for glory of God. So I got back to some of the things that have always been on my heart. One of which being missions.
(some more background for you)
For 11 days I was blessed to be apart of my church (River Oaks Community Church) missions trip to Nairobi Kenya. I went when I was 12 and again at the age of 16. On that trip we were able to come along side the church in Nairobi, called Fountain of Hope, and minister to the surrounding slum areas. We were apart of their Saturday feeding program, enjoyed two praise filled Sunday services, helped with the 3 day medical camp, and spent lots of time with the 24 children who are cared for by FOH. I thought going in that I would be able to help them and do some kind of service for them. But it turned out to be quite the reverse. Their love for the Lord amidst all they had been through astounded me. It convicted me: How often do I complain about my small trials and grow weary and doubt God? Yet they are here, going through so much more and yet sing, praise and minister for the Lord with such love and faith?
God used those Kenya trips to weigh on my heart this summer and brought me to a place of realizing I needed my heart to be checked. That I am called, as a daughter of Christ, to be out there serving others and spreading the Gospel, yet here I am wallowing in my disappointment. So with my father’s help we found a missions organization that was more long term, where I could get out of my comfort zone, grow in Christ and be able to serve others. The Lord led me to World Race, an organization with a solid background, strong in their faith with amazing ministry opportunities. They offered a three month missions trip to the Philippines. The ministry including working in birthing homes,light construction and working with women and children who are victims of the sex trafficking industry. This ministry spoke to my heart and after much prayer and counsel from my parents I decided to begin God’s next adventure for me. I am beyond excited about this next adventure and I can’t wait to see what the Lord does.
I will be posting more on the trip in future months! To keep updated you can subscribe or keep on eye on facebook!
