How I was Called to the Missions Field

My sophomore year of high school I was shown the Invisible Children documentary. It was then that God broke my heart for the children of Africa. It has since been in the core of my heart, growing steadily stronger with every beat to go to Africa and succumb myself to the poverty and tragedy that these children call reality every day. 

It was not until the end of my third semester in college when the call to Africa started to become real. I had my whole life planned out by the time I entered my second year of college. Every detail of my life was planned out according to where I thought God was leading me. But then I realized that God was pulling me in a different direction and that I had completely lost track of the path that He had laid out for me. So I took all of my ambitions, all of the plans I had made and surrendered them to God by taking my fourth semester of college off to get back on God’s path. It was then that He revealed to me His plans of me pursuing my dreams and my greatest passions by following Him. He revealed to me a life of servitude and a life with more purpose than I could have ever planned for myself. He showed me that if I follow Him and let Him lead me, He will give me life that is more beautiful and joyful than I could ever imagine.  I have always felt out of place in my life, like there is something more to it than what I was living. I have never had any desire to live the “white picket fence life” or make money and have nice things (please don’t be mistaken in thinking that I see this lifestyle as wrong, but simply not for me).  With this calling to missions in Africa, I knew that God was taking me home to where I truly belong. It was at this time that I knew that God had already planned my life for me and there was no sense in me trying to plan it out because honestly, the way I would have planned it out would not be nearly as perfect for me as what God has in His plan.  I feel like a puzzle piece that has finally been put in the right place, where it fits perfectly and makes the whole picture come together just that much more. I like to think that my life will be used by God to make the picture of His universe more complete. Every puzzle piece fits into the picture differently, and just the same, every person has a distinct purpose in this life; mine is to devote my life to one of poverty to show the people who have never experienced joy or love, the beauty of the God who loves them. God has led me to Africa and I know that being with these people and these children who are so broken will be more difficult and more painful than I can handle, but with God’s strength I can have the power to make a difference. With the grace of God I can be the miracle that they never knew they would live to see. 

I started looking for mission opportunities and came upon this adventure that I am certain is in God’s will for my life. It really is true that when you “seek your happiness in the Lord, He will give you your heart’s desire” (Psalm 37:4).