Unless you’re a missionary’s child, not many children aspire to be missionaries but would rather be a teacher, dentist, or cowboy. I had wanted to be an interior designer since I was pretty young because “Trading Spaces” was my favorite TV show. However, I wanted to be able to help people with my profession. I started out in college as an Interior Design major but that only lasted one semester. Next was Journalism, but I really wanted to do photojournalism and not take all the interviewing and reporting classes. Finally, I changed my major to Social Work. When I think back, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to do social work but things were holding me back from committing, things I recognize as Satan now.
I am always up for some spontaneous adventure, which is why I have known for years I would end up on the race. But still, people ask me…”You’re going where? For how long? Without your thermapeudic mattress and 15 pillows? You can’t stand sand on the beach. J.Crew won’t be outfitting you in Nepal. You get timed showers? How the heck are you going to fit all of your stuff into a backpack?” And I tell them. I am an adventurer fit to follow Christ wherever he takes me. If that means I sleep on a slab of concrete, He will get me through it.
So, THE WHY: I am not content being in the same place for a long time. I want to see the world, touch the hearts of the orphans, feel the heartache of dying patients who would be easily medicated in the states, hear the sounds of cultural differences, and smell the countryside. In all of this, I want to be used by God. Used to my limit. I’ve always said, “If God brings you to it, He’ll bring you through it.” Although sometimes it does take years to go through it, you end up stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually. I want to be SPENT at the end of my 11 months. I pray that God will take care of me and all my medical woes, but that he will use every ounce of energy in me to reach other people. I pray that I will come home and be unrecognizeable to my family and friends due to the extreme change that occurred in my heart. As Brad Paisley says in his song:
And I Miss my Tennessee home
So, I can’t wait to get out of my southern comfort zone more than I ever have before and serve the Lord with all my heart.
