We were asked to write a blog about how we were called into the mission feild… Here is my story,
When I was five I had this conversation with God, “Dear God its Melissa Anne Betz. I live in OrangeVille. Thats in Canada. Ummm, I think you made a mistake. I dream a lot at night about living in Africa, and I think maybe I was supposed to be born there. I saw on TV that they are sick and that makes me sad. Will you send them some food. Thanks
Dreaming of Africa didn’t stop. As I grew up I got involved in projects with World Vision and in my schools. I was a young activitist on a mission to see this world be a better place. At fifteen I was saved at a youth conference. It was a missionary speaking about his experiences that made me turn to God. I had such an urgency in my heart to help. I wanted to be the change in this world. My faith began to grow and mature and as it did, my desires and heart began to change. Helping others had always been so much a part of me, but it was a self gratification that quenched my desires. It was knowing that I Melissa Betz was making a difference. The Lord radically changed my perspectives as it became not about serving self through serving others, but the desire to see Him glorified and see Him be the change in this world with me just being a tool that He could use.
Delight yourself in the way of the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalm 37:4. Missions was my desire. In April 2007 I was delighted to be a part of a womans trip to Tijuana Mexico. I was desperate for what God wanted for my life and I was searching with a desire and hunger like I had not experienced before. As I had the chance to restore a womans shelter, I watched God restore their hearts. As I prayed for beauty from Ashes I saw the laughter of children playing amongst ruins. This is where my heart connects the most and where I feel at peace. My dreams and desires were restored. I returned home and began asking God where he wanted me.
“For who knows that you were made for such a time as this.”
This was the verse I read as I prayed about the email with the subject, “What are you going to do for the next year?”
“AIM. I know them, my roomate went to Africa with them. I haven’t gotten an email from them in at least a year. The World Race. Wait I wanted to do this when I first saw it, how come I never applied?’ The verse came back to me. Was I made for such a time as this? Was this my Esther moment? Stepping out in faith I applied, and the rest as we say is History.
