The first time I ever left America I was 11 years old. My family was going on vacation to Mexico. I remember one night walking the streets of Puerto Vallarta on our way back to our hotel and I saw a mother sleeping on the street with her little baby in her arms. This was my first memory of extreme poverty. I wasn't a Christian at the time, but compassion stirred within me for this woman and her child.
When I was 14 I gave my life to Christ and became a full gospel Christian (meaning- I believe everything the Bible says is still relevant to our world today... healing, baptism, the Holy Spirit.. EVERYTHING!).
The following Summer I went on my first mission trip to Kingston, Jamaica. It was on that trip that I knew God had called me to be a missionary. I loved every moment of being in a foreign country, surrounded by people of another culture. The next trip I went on was to Kiev, Ukraine. Again, I fell in love with the people and culture of Ukraine.
My first semester at Christ For The Nations Institute I signed up for a student ministry called, Neighborhood Impact. You see, the CFNI campus is in a bad part of Dallas, in fact there are two different 'projects' on each side of the campus. One of the apartment complexes was the goal area for this ministry.
The next semester Neighborhood Impact was cancelled so I signed up with a ministry called Dallas Metro, a sidewalk Sunday school to the inner city of Dallas. I was heavily involved with Dallas Metro. I helped teach at one of the sidewalk Sunday school sites every Friday, visited the families every Saturday and helped with the youth on Thursday nights.
It was during my time as a volunteer with these ministries that I realized missions is more than just going to another country. It's about taking Jesus to the people of the world... even if it's your neighbors. It was also during this time that I realized not only was I called to be a missionary, but I was called to children's ministry. (During my time at CFNI I was also a children's pastor for a church plant in a suburb of Dallas, called Rockwall).
My last year at Christ For The Nations, my new husband and I enrolled in the 3rd year missions program. We spent our first semester on the campus learning about building a financial support team, newsletters, reaching unreached people groups, etc. The second semester we spent in Peten, Guatemala learning what day to day missions work is like. Talk about a wake up call for me!!!! I had been on two short term mission trips... yet those didn't prepare me for the reality of what a missionary's life truly looks like.
Jordan grew up on the mission field so for him 10 weeks in the jungle of Guatemala was more like home. The first two weeks were the hardest for me. I was 8 weeks pregnant when we got to Guatemala, I was having morning sickness all day long, I was tired and I was frustrated that my husband could communicate with everyone and I couldn't. I wanted to go home, I thought I made a huge mistake by leaving America as a young pregnant woman. I missed Target and Wal-Mart.. and I hate Wal-Mart!! I missed being able to buy my shampoo and conditioner and make-up and deodorant without having to search the entire town high and low and pay way more than what it's worth.. I was going through culture shock.
The ten weeks we spent in Guatemala were life changing. I learned so much about myself, ministry and what it takes to be a missionary.
So fast-forward 2 years and here I am writing about my passion for missions as I sit in my nice suburban home in America while my two kids take their naps in their air conditioned bedrooms. This isn't exactly where I thought I'd be in life..BUT I know one day I will take my family overseas and we will spend our days serving God by telling the world about Jesus, and I will not lose sight of the vision and the desires that God has placed in my heart!
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
That is so great that you have that burden and passion.
ReplyDeleteBut like you said...missions doesn't just happen in foreign countries. It happens everywhere...all around us. It's ministering to your neighbor, the grocery store cashier worker, co-workers, etc etc.
Can't wait to move to Colorado and meet you and your adorable family.
:-)
I'm really looking forward to meeting you and your growing family in person!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you did third year school of missions...married and prego! Wow. Again, impressed!
ReplyDeleteI think I would have had MAJOR culture shock too. Those first few weeks of pregnancy can be difficult enough, adding all that other stuff to it...you had a lot of God's grace. :-)
You're right, I did have a lot of God's grace. I was also under the leadership of very understanding people!!
ReplyDeleteIt was funny to be pregnant in Guatemala because they have their own old wives tales.. like mango and salt cure morning sickness and if you sleep after eating rice it will make you sick. Our poor host family saw me throw up or run to the bathroom so many times, I think they were just telling me anything to help!!