Two years ago.
The Lord has used moments in my life to bring transformation. Not all of these moments have been earth-shattering experiences or epic tales and adventures. Often, they have been quiet, tenderly spoken whispers, drawing me closer to Himself, reminding me who He is and that I belong to Him. Two years ago, He used one of those moments to change me. I was getting ready for work, music blaring (likely Hillsong United, Empires was the record of my life at the time), when I halted all manner of morning preparation because God spoke a word to me, audibly yet inaudibly. It was quiet, yet clear. Soundless, but undeniable. The word was silently spoken to my heart, and He said, “Ministry”.
As a believer in Christ Jesus, I am commanded to go and make disciples of all nations, share the Gospel of Christ and teach them to love and obey Him (Mathew 28:19-20). I seek to serve Him daily in this way in my normal life, job, and interactions… of course falling short, but praise God for His grace! On this day, the word “ministry” was not the same as I had previously practiced and understood. This time, it felt like He was preparing me to start understanding a lifestyle of even more intentional ministry.
My mind began to marinate on this thought. What would this look like? Does this mean that my practice of occupational therapy is going to shift entirely? (A separate blog post for another time). Does this mean that I am going to marry a pastor? I mean, you never know! Will I encourage women in the Lord through speaking (yay!) or writing (ehh)? I did not know, and to be honest I still do not have a full picture of where He is leading me, but I can say “Yes!” to the next step.
International missionary work has been an interest of mine for more than 10 years, but I always imagined it was for people who had more ministry experience or who were regularly surrounded by family in ministry. Providentially, in the last two years I have had a growing heart for the suffering of many in the international community: those affected by the crisis in Syria, children exposed to trauma and war, young women and girls who have been forced into the sex trade, and the treatment of people with severe and profound disabilities. And so, I am stepping into the mission field, eager to obediently answer His call to serve abroad, be brave and bold in my pursuit of Jesus, share the Gospel, and care for the hearts of vulnerable people.
In August 2018, I will be going on the World Race, launching with 30 squad mates, serving in 11 countries over 11 months!
Two years ago the Lord started preparing my heart for this journey. I eagerly await every quiet and colossal moment He has planned in the next two years.
