So when I went into nursing it was with the intentions of doing some sort of medical mission work, probably in Africa because thats where I felt called to be at the time. But things kind of got messed up when I didn’t get accepted anywhere to do my Bachelor of science in Nursing and instead was only accepted to do my licenced Practical Nurse which is not actually internationally regonized. This was a little bit of a damper and I really wasn’t sure what it ment for me.
I had to move to go to school for my LPN and little did I know this was all the start of an amazing thing. First I ended up with the most amazing roommates who took me to an amazing church. For the first time since we had left South Africa I felt like part of a church, there was a young adults group here and I meet some wonderful, lifelong friends. Here I also got involved with the youth which has probably been one of by biggests challenges in my life to date.
< —- My Room mates and I (Cheryl, Shannon(me), Shar)
I graduated from college and still felt very called to missions but had no real direction. So I did some general travelling which I enjoyed but was still not satisfied. Then I had the opportunity to go as a leader to the LA Dream center with the youth this past summer and again fell in love with missions and by this time I was begging God to send me. When we returned home from LA we started some ministries into our city. After some rough break ups I surrended my heart to God telling him only when he was ready did I want to give my heart away and so I began pouring my everything into these ministries and into the youth, epecially the girls. And man God is breaking my heart, rocking me, romancing me and wooing me. I fell so in love with God, so passionate and on fire. But through all this I was still begging God to send me to the mission field.
<—– team that went to the LA Dream Center
Then an opportunity came up for a friend and I to go to Mozambique for 2 months in May 2010 and I was so excited! So I began to save money and prepare for that, thinking to myself “yes I’m finally out of here!” Sometime after this I was on my knees crying out to God “I just want to be your hands and feet” So when this trip fell through in January 2010 i was shocked, and had alot of questions for God. This is what he said, “Shannon, don’t you see, i’m not done with you here yet, you are in a mission field right now” Ha wow!
So i sat back thinking well I could just take take a trip somewhere since I have been saving, but I realized that I really couldn’t justify just travelling soully for my own benift and joy, I needed to be serving God wherever or whatever I did. Then through a friend I heard about AIM and with mixed feeling checked it out and through that I came accross the world race and was so excited about it. So I asked this same friend what he thought and his answer was well start applying and pray like heck so thats what I did and wouldn’t you know it, I’m going!
I’ve been wondering why now? why this? and I believe its because now I have completly surrended, to God’s will and plans for my life, I am stronger spiritually now then I have ever been, I have shown God I am faithful and willing to serve and I have the most amazing support in the friends I have recently made. So I am super excitied for the challenge this trip is going to be and I am 100% sure this is where i’m supposed to be at this point in my life.
