How it Started

A little over a year ago a mission trip wasn’t even in my sights. Yes, I wanted to be a missionary, but, I felt, I was nowhere near getting on a plane and taking off. Obviously, God had lightly different plans. One week, orphans were on my mind. I was reading about different organizations and different ways to help. I was thinking about how great it would be if my church got involved in supporting an orphan over seas. There are many organizations that have you send only thirty dollars a month. In fact, I thought, I go to a huge church with many, many Sunday school classes, what if each class adopted a child? What a difference that would make! On Sunday I collected all my courage and talked to not one, but  two classes about my idea. Speaking in front of...

Around Christmas time I was nannying for a friend. I hadn’t seen my family in two months, I had missed several birthdays, and I couldn’t afford gifts for anyone. I was going to get home four days before Christmas and I was going to arrive empty handed. This didn’t sit right with me. One thing I love to do is spoil the two nieces and two nephews I live with with gifts. However, because of the road I was on, I could barely afford to take my sister out for coffee when I got home. I continuously argued with myself. I had chosen to quit my reliable job the previous summer and move to a different city. I could have easily found a different job close to my new home, but I had chosen not to. Something about the thought made my stomach churn every time I...