my missions story.

All of my life, I have grown up in church. Whenever I was ten years old, I realized I was lost, and if I died I would spend all of eternity in hell. On December 21, 2001, I asked Jesus Christ to come into my heart. It was as if the Lord immediately put a desire in my heart to serve others, and do mission work. I was always very eager to go on any mission trip, whether it be local or in another state. I was very passionate about it, and knew the Lord had even greater things planned for me outside the borders of the United States. He put a strong desire in my heart to serve Him on foreign land.  I continued to pray about it, and ask the Lord for the opportunity to go and share his love with people who had never heard of sweet grace. Opportunities came up here and there, but none I ever felt strongly about. None I ever even got close to signing up for...until 2008.

On an early spring day in 2008, my dad came home from work, and told me the man he works with was going on a mission trip to the Philippines with his church.  He had told my dad that if I was interested, there was plenty of time for me to sign up, and their church would be glad to help me fundraise. Of course, I immediately wanted to go; however, my parents didn't seem so thrilled, so I decided not to push it.  I prayed, and prayed, and prayed that the Lord would make a way. God immediately began to put the Filipino people on my heart, and I wanted to go share His love and mercy with them.  As weeks passed by, I realized that time was drawing near for them to begin finalizing the team, and soon be departing for their trip. With less than two months remaining before take-off, my dad's friend came to him again, and told him that one of the ladies who had originally signed up had backed out at last minute.  My dad told me this news, and my heart was filled with joy. I knew the Lord had answered my prayers. Although, my parents were a bit nervous, I know they knew it too.  With only a few weeks left, the Lord provided my every need.  Everything was taken care of. I left that year headed to a third world country that I was completely clueless about. I was almost completely unaware of how things would be.  I knew I would be telling His Word to many, many people, but I didn't know to what extent. I never imagined I would be able to tell hundreds of people about Christ in just two weeks.  I went with people who I knew nothing about. I never imagined they would become like family to me. That summer we spent two weeks in the cities of Tuguegarao City and Aparri. I immediately fell in love with the country. The people tugged at my heart like none had ever done before. I became so wrapped up in telling these people about the loving Savior that I knew. I was also fortunate enough to be able to visit Uncle Dick's Home, an orphanage in Mindanao, for two days. I like to think it was love at first sight. I referred to it, and still do, as "Heaven on Earth." I remember praying to the Lord, that He would please bring me back there. Two days simply wasn't enough. Those two weeks I spent in the Philippines that summer, were two of the best weeks of my life.  I remember the day I arrived back home in America. As I was telling my family about my trip, I remember telling them that "if I could, I would go back in the morning!" He had already given me a love for the country that I never imagined I would have. That following year, He continually reminded me of the work that was left to do there. He reminded me of the love He had given me for the people, and for the great joy they brought into my life.  There was no question whether or not I would be going whenever it came time to sign up for the summer of 2009.  I knew it was the Lord's will.  That summer we went to the remote island of Samar. It was wonderful. I came home that year as much, if not more, in love with the people, and excited about the work the Lord was doing there.   The following year I signed up for the five week trip.  Although it was the most exhausting five weeks of my life, it was wonderful.  Not only did I meet some of my very best friends on that trip, but I was also able to be a part of leading over one million people to Christ.  To say that it was incredible, would be an understatement. I was also once again able to go spend a few days at Uncle Dick's Home.  The Lord immediately began to tug at my heart, and lead me back there before I even left. I spoke with Mr. Bob about it, and he told me that if I would discuss it with my family, he approved.  Before I even left the Philippines that summer, I had already began talking to my family about going back to UDH.  I felt so strongly about it, and was ready to begin making the arrangements to make it happen. I left on January 10, 2011 to head to Mindanao, Philippines to be a big sister to almost fifty orphans. Although it wasn't always easy...the days were sometimes long, the bugs too many, the food not so great, and the peace simply not there...it was the most wonderful time of my life.  I am so thankful for the time the Lord gave me to serve Him at Uncle Dick's Home, and for the orphans who became family to me.  Whenever I think about the many blessings the Lord has given me during my life, I thank Him immensely for bringing that special place into my life. I could never thank Him enough.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." -Acts 1:8

After my six week stay at Uncle Dick's Home, I began preparing for the summer trip which would only be two weeks.  Click on the stories from the islands. tab, and scroll down to the heart for the orphans story. That will tell you a little bit about the summer trip in 2011.

Since that trip, in Southern Leyte, Philippines, God has done some pretty crazy things. I will be sharing about our orphanage that is now home to eleven children soon. Stay tuned :)