My plan was to graduate from college and go as far away from my hometown as possible. I was convinced this is what would be best for me and I would trust the Lord to take me wherever. Well, the Lord knows better. Turns out, I moved back to my hometown immediately after graduation and would stay there for a few years. I did not trust the Lord moving back to my hometown. I thought to the Lord, “that doesn’t seem like the international missions You called me to when I was 16…”
The Lord knows better.
My college majors and previous jobs have been in the social work realm, making me no stranger to trauma and connecting people with resources to help them thrive. Not too long after I was in my hometown, I was presented with an opportunity to serve in Greece for 2 years. In this mission role, I will be building relationships in the community through participating in what's already happening with the eventual goal of bringing people together to holistically serve the marginalized and oppressed. As a social worker in Greece, I get to help connect vulnerable people with resources that exist to serve them, whether that be refugees combined to camps, students who need support, or trafficking victims. I get to participate alongside the Greek church's efforts to serve and disciple in their communities.
I know this is what the Lord has called me to do.
My time in my hometown equipped me to serve in ways I never would have expected. After what seemed like a massive season of wrestling, the Lord reminded me that I was never in control and it is much better this way. My heart is in a much better posture to leave and serve the people in Greece now than it would have been if I left when I graduated college. Thank You, Jesus!