When are you back in Texas? You have to be on the home stretch now right?
I will be back in Texas in June. There is 2 more months and 2 more countries after the Dominican Republic to serve (Haiti and Jamaica) before heading home.
Are you having fun? What’s it like living all over the world?
Life is full of fun no matter where you are! Each day, I choose Jesus and I strive to choose joy. Living all over the world without a home is quite freeing. It has been a liberating experience to strip my life of American culture and “my comforts.” Embarking on the unknown and uncertain has provided new possibilities. It is a HUGE blessing to be serving several countries across the World and there is not a day that passes without praising God. I am so grateful to all my friends, family, and supporters.
What’s it like talking about the lord to different cultures? What’s it been like to travel and be around the different cultures?
I recently watched a TED Talk with Scott Dinsmore called ‘Find work you love.’ In his talk, Scott encourages his listeners that “The work “you can not do” is the work that starts to change the world around you.” It takes action in order to change all things or anything. I have learned that talk is cheap and not doing anything is cheaper. I desire to invest in every culture I am sent to serve by having a mind-set that is open and centered on Christ. A new favorite quote of mine is, “Changing something in your life requires changing something in your life.” Making new discoveries, being intentional, and surrounding yourself with others who inspire possibility will encourage anyone to move their feet.
Eating new foods, wearing cultural clothes, celebrating different cultural realities are all part of being on the field. In obedience to the call Jesus placed on my life, I have found that different cultures are just like us. We are all God’s children and we all desire love. LOVE is a universal language and action. All cultures enjoy family, friends, and food. Learning to carve out my own cultural norms has expanded my vision of God’s creation.
Sharing the gospel with other cultures has been a gift as I have seen so many lives impacted by living out the call to ‘Go.’ Every culture has their own unique way of understanding Christianity, but every culture understands God as universal. We all worship something and we all understand our deep need for love. I have learned more about God and myself than I ever could of imagined by making the decision to say yes to Him. My unique talents, experiences, and values have played a part in inspiring others cross-culturally. Art has been a platform to bless different cultures and to leave my mark in 7 different countries. I live my life everyday just like everyone else – I just choose to daily engulf myself in the culture I am living with. I have learned that changes can always be made and creativity can be fulfilled in doing something for other people.
What is the saddest place you have been to?
This is a difficult question. I would just say the slums. Both in India and Nepal. In Nepal, the devastation from the recent earthquake left many people without homes. It was difficult to see, especially in the slum our team served in by the river in Kathmandu. Each day, the kids wore the same clothes, were faced with the same malnutrition, and were forced to beg for money due to extreme poverty. Living literally on trash, they were the most humble people I have ever encountered – having nothing, but possessing everything. They would give you the clothes off their back to just spend time with you. The Nepalese placed such high value on quality time and prayer. It was amazing. Their living conditions saddened my heart and witnessing the devastation left from loss was hard. Walking literally between shacks upon shacks, I saw so many signs of Jesus and hope.
Out of all the countries you have been what is your fondest memory? What was your toughest challenge?
My fondest memory was the first moment I met Karen – the 9 year old girl with disabilities that I wrote about during my first month from Ongole, India. I fell in love with her when I saw her and from that moment all my fear of serving at Sarah’s Covenant Homes dwindled. All I wanted to do was just hold her gently and let her know how loved by Jesus she is. By time I left there, she could say “Na Na,” sit up on her own for a few seconds, and she said the word “Love.” I still tear up when I think about her.
My toughest challenge has been dealing with lice, especially when living amongst three other teams. It is safe to say that was the first battle I had to overcome as a missionary and I have learned much humility because of it. I think by this point, month 9, our entire squad has. Having my team-mate Eric pick lice out of my hair for hours was not something I was ready for the very first month on the field.
What have you learned from this refining experience?
I have learned to be a better servant of God: Love God. Love People. period.
