It's simple, well maybe not simple, but it wasn't a hard decision. The bible tells us to go into the world and preach the Word. This was my calling from Him, I just didn't know it yet. April 2015, my 25th birthday just passed, and my grandmother was very sick in the hospital. I knew her time was coming but wasn't ready to face it. She's been my best friend for as long as I could remember. A friend
from church started talking to me about this trip and I was like Wow!! Sounds like a good idea. I've always wanted to go on a mission trip, but never had the means to do so, or a job that would allow me to. At first, I had no excuses and said yes right away, but when I started to talk to my family about it, they were like no you can't go, we don't support this decision. I was upset. Satan was using my family to place doubt in my mind, and it worked, for a very short period of time. When I went back to tell my friend I couldn't go and I didn't have the support of my family, he shot down every excuse they had put in my mind. My head was spinning in circles. Everything he said was true. I had a choice to make and I couldn't let my family get in the way of me wanting to do the Lord’s work. Joshua 24:15 - but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. (KJV)
Now back to my grandmother being sick. She was the strongest person I've ever known. Constantly active in the Church of Christ at Hidden Valley for years, and I mean 30+ years. I knew she was weak, and when my uncles left the room to take my grandpa for lunch, I took the opportunity to just talk to her. I told her I have listened to her my entire life, and I know she didn't have the energy to speak, so I just wanted to talk to her and let her listen. My heart was torn between going or staying. I wasn’t sure what to do. I wanted to go to Ethiopia so much, as it would be my first mission trip, but I didn't want to leave her. She opened her eyes and looked at me and said, “if you want to go, then go. I'm just wanting to go home.” At that moment I knew she meant she wanted to go home to our Heavenly Father and be at rest. In my mind, I wasn't ready to say goodbye, but her being in pain hurt for me to watch. She was preparing herself to go Home. A home we should all want and strive for. A home that shouldn't be kept a secret. A home I wanted to share with people that were hungry for the word of Christ. After letting my family know I was going no matter what, they said okay. It took a few weeks for them to accept it, but they came around and even donated towards the trip. Getting there…
I admit, I was nervous about leaving the country and my family for the first time to go over seas. My heart was hurting as my grandmother passed away two weeks after talking with her about going. I knew she would have been upset had I not gone, so I went. I had plenty of preparation to do before going, as I was kind of a last minute add on. There was money to be raised, lessons to be prepared for, and no time to be wasted. For the next eight weeks I was in total prep mode for getting ready for Africa. I'll admit, I was getting more and more nervous as time went by. Finally, it was time to go! My heart was over joyed with excitement, and a little nervous about flying such a long distance. I've flown several times over the years growing up, but never across that big blue Atlantic Ocean. Of course, that ocean looks like a dot poked on a piece of paper compared to the Almighty and powerful God. As He always does, God cared for us on our long journey to Africa, and kept us safe. At last, we made it to Ethiopia. My incredible teaching experience…
Even though we were already there, my nerves were still working in full high motion, but my heart was filled with joy. I wasn’t sure how things were going to go for my classes. Especially since I had never done anything like this before. This was my first time teaching in any VBS on my own (minus my translator), and definitely not going to be my last. The first day was a little crazy, as any VBS would be; whether you are in America or a foreign country. Teaching about the plagues was so much fun, the children had no idea what a frogs were. Frogs don’t exist in that part of the world. So I had to show the children how to be a frog, by crouching down on the ground and hopping. They found it quite amusing. So afterwards, I took them outside the classroom and we reenacted Moses, Aaron, and Pharaoh, the King of Egypt, to let God’s people go. When Aaron struck the ground with his staff, the children immediately turned into hopping little frogs and hopped all along the courtyard. On the day, where we learned about the river turning to blood the fish in the river died; so I had them throw their hands back and close their eyes. Again, they loved all the interactions that were taught along with the plagues. It gave them an idea of what happened, and helped them to understand the lessons. Teaching these children has changed me in so many ways. My heart has been opened up for new ideas and ways of life. I’m definitely more grateful for what I have here in America. People that have so little to give, but are willing to give and share everything they have. Some of my children were sharing their bread crackers that we gave them for their snack during class, and were reaching through the windows to share. Unfortunately, we had to stop this because of safety reasons. These children don’t really get to eat much unless they have parents that are able to provide some type of food for them. I can’t give them much, but I can teach and give them the knowledge of the bible and feed their souls with scripture. This is what they call a local congregation. Local is walking through all the tall grass and feeling like your in a movie where something may jump out at you. :)
Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NKJV)
My goal Summer 2016…
To raise about $5,000 to go back during the summer. Last year I gave two weeks and with 6 other teachers we taught over 500 kids. This year, I want to go for six weeks and teach 1,000 kids with 13 other teachers. We can’t all be there at the same time, but I can give up half my summer to teach children that are so hungry for the Bible, and they cling to every word. That may sound like a lot of money, but it goes for the mission. The people there are so hungry for the word of God. They come in every time the gates to the compound are open. Some of them travel more than an hour by foot through dangerous areas, just to hear the Gospel. The children love the songs, and have smiling faces. These children live in a world that is not safe to them, but they have hope. Hope of eternal life. Faith stronger than I have seen from people I have known for my entire life. Open your hearts for the Sudanese people to continue to gain the knowledge and love of Christ.
