Hi everyone! Let me first start by saying that I am so thankful for you - yes, you. The simple fact that you are reading this post means that you have been and continue to be a part of my journey to the Dominican Republic. Without the support and encouragement of my family and friends, seeking out this opportunity would have been much more difficult and I'm not sure if I would be where I am now. So thank you for being part of what the Lord is doing in my life! This blog will serve as a communication channel between you and I while I am serving in the Dominican Republic. You'll notice that on the right-hand side of the blog, you can send me a message or you can even enter your email address to receive an email notice every time that I update the blog. Thank you for supporting me in this way!
In less than two weeks, I will be in Calgary, Canada for two weeks of missionary training. Please pray that God would use those 14 days to teach me, stretch me, grow me, and prepare me for the work ahead. I am thankful that I will be attending training with four other missionaries from Kids Alive International as well as many other missionaries from different organizations throughout North America. I am excited about the opportunity to meet these servants and hear their stories. Pray that we will be an encouragement for each other! You'll notice that I've bolded the word "pray"several times. The success of our ministry in the Dominican Republic is dependent on your prayers. Prayer is the way we show that our strength and success comes from the Lord and not from our own efforts. I will try to bold the word "pray"each of my blogs so you can see some specific ways that you can offer prayer support while I'm on the mission field. It would be a great encouragement if you would send me a message using the box on the right when you've prayed for me!
After training, I will arrive in the Dominican Republic on August 25th. I really have no idea what to expect when I arrive. A friend recently asked me some seemingly basic questions - "Who is picking you up from the airport? Where are you staying when you get there? What grade are you teaching? What's your school schedule like?" I blankly stared at her and answered "I don't know," to each question. If you know me in even the slightest capacity, you know that it is incredibly difficult for me to not have all the answers and to not have a plan. But praise God we serve a Lord who has all the answers, wants to make all the plans, and loves us enough to involve us in them. I ultimately know that my main mission in life is to glorify God, and I think that trusting Him with the scary, uncertain unknown brings more glory to His name than orchestrating plans to help myself live within my comfort zone.
Kids Alive has a wonderful "Pre-Field Orientation Manual" which leads missionaries through the eight weeks preceding their departure. It includes to-do lists, important information, and most valuably, Bible studies and suggested readings from various books about world missions. I have truly loved reading through this booklet - and I really can't believe that I only have two weeks left! Anyway, I thought I would take some space to share some of my favorite quotes and revelations from the manual. I hope you find them as encouraging and thought-provoking as I have. Send me a message and let me know what your favorite is!
God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. - John Piper, The Supremacy of God In Missions
A heart for the glory of God and a heart of mercy for the nations make a Christ-like missionary. - John Piper, The Supremacy of God In Missions
In the spiritual life, the word discipline means "the effort to create some space in which God can act." - Henri Nouwen, Moving From Solitude to Community to Ministry
Within the discipline of community are the disciplines of forgiveness and celebration. Forgiveness and celebration are what make community, whether a marriage, a friendship, or any other form of community. - Henri Nouwen, Moving From Solitude to Community to Ministry
We are sent to wherever there is poverty, loneliness, and suffering to have the courage to be with people. Trust that by throwing yourself into that place of pain you will find the joy of Jesus. All ministries in history are built on that vision. A new world grows out of compassion. - Henri Nouwen, Moving From Solitude to Community to Ministry
God has given us prayer because Jesus has given us a mission. - John Piper, The Supremacy of God In Missions
God does not put His gospel and His people in the world and leave them to wage war on their own. He is the main combatant. And the battle is to be fought in a way that gives Him the glory. - John Piper, The Supremacy of God In Missions
