One of the big questions is how I knew I wanted to do missions work. For me, that’s easy! For other people, not so much. The urge inside to just GO has been there for such a long time! I remember being in Bible college a few years back and a good friend of mine asked me what I wanted to do with my life. The answer was simple. I desired nothing more than to minister to those who are unloved, undesirable, and unattractive to the world. It is my desire to love the unloved, love the undesirable, and to love what the world calls unattractive just at Christ loved us. We are called to live a life of that neither condemns the world nor judges it.
“For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.”
“Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?”
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'” Matthew 25: 42-45
In high school I got the opportunity to travel to El Paso, TX for a missions trip. In college, I was able to go on a missions trip to New Orleans, LA and reach out to those attending the Mardi Gras festivities. This particular trip was a stretch for me. Our ministry was to walk out on the streets of New Orleans smack dab in the middle of one of the most popular events in North
America and share the story of Christ. Up until this point I’m not sure I had ever walked up to a stranger and asked if they knew who God loved them. I certainly had never asked a stranger if I could pray for them…in public! I got the opportunity to pray with a young lady who once knew who her Savior was. She grew up in church but the temptations of adulthood lured her away. A good friend of mine was with me and we both prayed for her. She began to cry. God was drawing her close. I’d love to say that she turned around and left Bourban Street after we prayed for her, but the truth is I have no idea! All I know is that God moved in her and that was something she couldn’t deny. I hope and pray that she let Him back in. This trip changed me. I always had a longing for something more; to reach out to those who are hurting.
I have always had a longing to leave our great nation to serve others. Southwestern took trips every spring break but I was never able to go because of my basketball schedule. Here in the last few months it seems as like international travel has been everywhere. Everywhere I turned I heard incredible stories about friends and their travel or job opportunities for close friends outside of the states. Everytime I heard it, my heart tugged a little more and a little more. I decided to start looking for a missions trip with some type of organization or another. That’s when I ran across The World Race website. I spent hours reading participant blogs and looking at pictures and videos that have been posted. My heart tugged even more. After a few days of not being able to think about anything else, I decided to send in an application. Afterall, the worst that could happen is they wouldn’t accept me. I’d be no worse off than I was the day before. Then came the interview, which made me nervous! I don’t do interviews well. Then came the phone call saying I got accepted! 🙂 I haven’t thought about much since. Missions has been on my heart for such a long time and I am so grateful for this opportunity!
