If you would have talked to me eight years ago about becoming a missionary, moving to another county, or learning another language I probably would have called you crazy. As introverted and shy as I was, I could never have imagined going so far out of my comfort zone for the sake of the Gospel. Having to build all new relationships. Trying to communicate in another language. Becoming friends and ministering to complete strangers. None of it.
Despite these things, eight years ago my life changed forever. God began to change my heart, my dreams, and my plans to align with His. Eight years ago, I went on a mission trip to the Bahamas where I worked at an orphanage for a week loving and serving the teenagers that called it home. As relationships developed and stories were told, it was all I could do to hold back the tears as stories of abandonment, rejection, and lives without love were shared. These teenagers were in what seemed like hopeless situations, never having known what it was like to be loved. That week, as I sat on the beach reflecting on the short time we had been there, I felt God clarify exactly what my purpose was. I was there that week to tell these teenagers that they were loved. Loved by God more than they could ever know. That in the middle of what seemed like a hopeless and lonely situation, there was a God who loved them, who would always love them, and who was their Hope. It was during that week I came to the startling realization that there are people throughout the world who have never heard the name of Jesus. Who have never heard or experienced the love that comes only from God. Sitting on that beach, watching the sun set, I knew God was calling me to bring the Gospel to such people.
Eight years ago, however, I had absolutely no idea what this would look like. I felt called to missions, but whether that would be overseas, in the United States, or even in my home town, I had no idea. All I knew at that point was missions was going to be part of my life. As I entered high school, I began studying Spanish which turned into a passion that carried into college where I continued my studies and studied abroad in Ecuador. This experience of living in Ecuador lead me to a deeper love and passion for both the language and the culture. I knew God was going to use that in my somehow. In college, I studied nursing and realized my desire to bring health care and medicine to those who had the least access to it. Community health also became a passion during college.
As college graduation drew near, I began wondering how I could tie all of these passions together – missions, Spanish, and community health. I recalled hearing about an opportunity to serve overseas for two years using my degree. Not knowing whether medical positions were available, I decided to look at GoCorps website. Immediately I was drawn to a position serving on the community health evangelism tract in Peru. In that moment, I knew this was something God was calling me to do. It was a perfect combination of all the passions God had given me.
It has been incredible to look back and see how God has been working throughout my life. How He has placed passions and burdens on my heart as specific times during my life in order to prepare me to do His work. I am so excited to begin living into the call God has place on my life and see how He will use me in ways I could never imagine!
May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.