So in my case there really weren’t any hand’s writing on the wall in Hebrew or something drastic like that that called me to the mission field. In fact, it actually starts with Africa. I know, totally different continents and people groups but God works in crazy ways, right? So I was called to Romania through Swaziland, Africa.
My Mother lived in Swaziland for two years after college so I grew up singing SeSwati songs and hearing all about the precious well-behaved African children and the increasing crime and HIV/Aids scene over there. So last year in February my Mom got a chance to go back there with Children’s Hopechest for ten days. At first they were planning on just bringing my older sister but I’ve always had a heart for little children and especially helpless children like the ones I had grown up hearing about so I begged to go along and it ended up being me, my sister, and my Mom.
On the trip we found out about AIM and that they had a program for youth that actually came to Swaziland for a whole month. It was perfect since I built up so many relationships with the children I met there and loved the country (because you seriously CAN’T not love Swaziland) and wanted to go back soon, so I planned on applying for the trip as soon as I was old enough. This past summer my older sister went–and it totally changed her life–while I was at camp–where God was changing MY life as well. Long story short, I had sorta drifted away from God before camp but He captured my heart again at camp and called me to the mission field. Well, I had been thinking SWAZILAND for so long that as soon as He told me, “Go, you’re ready now.” I thought that meant to Swaziland, Africa. So I get home from camp all psyched and talk to my parents and since my Mom is IN LOVE with Swaziland (and we plan to actually move there in four years) she was all for it and very supportive. So I applied. To then find out that AIM wasn’t even GOING to Swaziland next year. You know the saying, “When God closes a door it’s because He opened a window” or something like that? Well, that’s how it was. All during my filling out of the application my Mom and I both were secretly having doubts about whether or not I was supposed to go on that trip. And then when the trip was cancelled we both realized that it had actually been the Lord Himself talking to us.
NOW, I get to Romania. I’ve always loved Europe and have been in love with gypsies and hippies for so long. I even feel like God is calling me to live in Denmark when I grow up and work with the people group we will be helping next Summer (so now you know why I’m counting down the days!). Anyways, I had already wanted to go on the Romania AIM trip one year in the future, but I thought it would be best if I went to Swaziland for my first AIM trip since I’ve already been there, y’know. WRONG. So now I’m writing this “How I was called to the Mission Field” blog post on the ROMANIA team Blog and researching gypsies instead of HIV cases. So yeah, it started with Africa and thanks to God it’s going to end with Europe!
