And the next step is...

For the past 6-7 months I have been in the application process for becoming a missionary to Guatemala with Living Water Teaching. I have always loved missions, and I started going on short-term mission trips when I was 12 years old. I didn´t necessarily think that I would become a full-time missionary, although I will admit that it was always lingering in the back of my mind. I did know that missions would always be a part of my life.

Well the past couple of years I have been leading trips with my church, The Branch and during this time, my desire for missions and consistently being on the field has become stronger and stronger. It was while I was in Guatemala this past July that I began feeling a tug that major change was coming. I began praying about it and believe that God was showing me that the time for becoming a full-time missionary was just around the corner. I prayed and prayed and also questioned. I mean, I love, love, love my job at The Branch, enjoy being around my family, and there are so many other things that I wanted to have "in order" before moving to the field. But I knew that true joy and peace comes when you obey God and walk in His will, I mean I love, love, love my current job and location because He placed me there, so I should trust His leading in everything.

I will admit that I wasn´t 100% positive at first, but I felt God leading me to apply with Living Water Teaching. I am well aware that sometimes the stepping out in faith is what the Lord is looking for as well, so I took the first step, knowing that I am led by God and that as I seek Him wholeheartedly I will go in the right direction.

All that to say, I am now in the final "step" of becoming a missionary to Guatemala. I am at this very moment in Quetzaltenango (also known as Xela), Guatemala on the campus of Living Water Teaching, going through a month of missionary training. During this time I am learning about all of the areas of the ministry here, spending time with the missionaries, students and others, and praying for God´s clear direction. I know without a doubt that I will live on the mission field, I believe that Living Water Teaching is the place I will begin, but during this time, I know that I will know without a doubt if this is where I will be for the next 4 years (starting around January 2010).

My greatest desire is to help people and the greatest gift that anyone can be given is a relationship with Jesus! It is my lifelong goal of living a life of love and sharing the joy that comes with being totally and completely in love with Jesus! Wherever God takes me, I am so ready to go!