I also laughed and told God, "you better do something with me because I am not missionary material!" I could almost hear Him chuckling to Himself, "challenge accepted".  

 

God has been transforming me , and I can honestly say that if I were to go back in time even 2 1/2 years ago, before He called me, I would not recognize myself. I was a quiet, giggly, 16-year-old who really liked to draw pictures and who thought she might go to art school.  Other than the whole drawing pictures thing, I am different in pretty much every way.  I am in love with God, and He has given me a heart for children who are hurting and living in poverty. I am definitely a work in progress, but slowly but surely, He is turning me into the person He always intended me to be.

 

March of 2016, I travelled to Guatemala City with a bunch of other high school students from my youth group for a ten-day missions trip.  It never even crossed my mind that this might be the place God would call me to, but boy, was I in for a shock!

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Guatemala changed everything.  Never have I loved people, or a place, so much. I have never felt so wholly myself when I am walking in the slums, holding hands with children I have just met, praying with single mothers, playing soccor with kids in the street, sharing the Gospel through a microphone in front of 400 students, kissing that broken child on the cheek and telling her how much Jesus loves her.  I left my heart scattered all over that country.  At the time, I was planning on going to a Bible college in Australia the following January, but after my heart was ripped out by a 7-year-old boy (pictured above), I felt God's roaring whisper, " there are so many more to love. I am bringing you back, but it will take more faith than you've ever had to practice".  Lyrics from a Bethel song that He really left me with were, "Faithful I have been, faithful I will be". These words have been so true in every part of my journey.

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Only about three months after I got back from Guatemala, Global Shore Opportunities popped up, and there I was, being asked to take on a full English teaching position where I would be in charge of Grades JK-6 at a growing school in El Tizate, Guatemala.  I was not expecting the full teaching position. I applied for the 'assistant teacher' position but felt God nudging me to take on the harder role.  Quite frankly, it scares me a lot.  Also, trying to fundraise the cost of living in Guatemala scares me a lot.  All $12,500 of it. But the Lord says go, and I will go. November is only four months away and I can scarcely believe it.  

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If you wish to support me financially, visit my 'Sponsor Me' page.

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