Yesterday morning I was privileged enough to be able to speak at Bayou Harvest Church about what God has put in my heart about the mission field. As nervous as I was when I woke up, I walked straight up to the podium as calm as could be, only the Holy Spirit. Since not everyone knows my story, I will share.
I will start of with my first mission trip. I was 13 years old and went with a small group from my church. We went to El Carmen, Mexico for one week during Easter. I had no idea that this would be the single most life changing week of my life! Two days of the entire week stood out to me the most, and I can remember the details as if it were yesterday. The first day I will share was entering the slums off the street. It was what seemed like a garbage dump site, but with people living there. These makeshift shacks out of garbage no one wanted like card board boxes and broken doors. The stench was horrifying. They were eating and drinking out of old rusted tin cans. Truly the most heart breaking site I've ever laid my eyes on. The next day we went visit the local orphanage out in the middle of no where. These children had literally nothing! We came with clothes, toys, toothpaste and brushes, and powdered milk. As much as they loved their new toys, they were intrigued with the toothpaste, eating it as if it were candy. So sad! We take tooth paste for granted, and here these kids have never tasted anything so good. Before we left, we unloaded these huge bags of powdered milk that we cautiously smuggled over the border for the kids to enjoy. As we were bringing the bags inside, one busted and the powder spilled to the ground. These poor orphans were lying on the ground licking the powder off the ground. What a horrific sight! I have never seen anything like it in all my 13 years of living. Living in America, I have never had to worry about where my next meal would come from, where my next outfit would come from, or even where my next toy would come from. I had no idea there were people in the world living in such a way. Even though we couldn't verbally communicate with people on the trip, nothing has ever impacted my life in such a way before or since.
Shortly after that trip, a missionary came speak to our church about life on the mission field, his experience, and he wanted to pray for those who feel called to that area. This was Steven Nicaud with Moved With Compassion Ministries- where I will be this summer!! I had no idea at the time, almost 10 years ago, that I would have the honor and privilege to actually be out with this man of God on the mission field, but God made a way. Before he left, he played a song with the lyrics "Send me, I will go. Send me, I will go. To this city, to this nation, and to the nations of the world", and I can remember standing there worshipping in his presence speaking to Him saying "Father, I will go. I will do it. I will live the rest of my life on the mission field if that is what you would have me do. I am willing". He took an alter call for those who felt called to missions, and without hesitation I ran up there.
Fast forward, and life happens. I entered high school. Moved away for college. Got "busy". In December, I graduated from college and got a job selling insurance. It didn't take me long to figure out that this was not for me! On my way to quit, I sat in my car praying in the spirit about direction, guidance, and what God would have me do. And it was extremely clear - "Singapore". So internally I am arguing "Singapore? That's during the summer. This is February. I don't have time to sit and wait for this summer to get here". But my God provides. I quit the job. Called my previous boss where I worked throughout college and asked for my job back. They graciously agreed to give it back until I found something more permanent, or in my case leaving for the summer. I applied for the internship, got accepted, booked my flight and here I am getting ready to leave for the most exciting 3 months of my entire life!
I can't express enough how good the God I serve is. He is always faithful. He always provides. He will always open the right doors. He will always take care of his children, always.
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