When I moved to Virginia to work as Ron
Barnard’s assistant with Chi Alpha and Southern Africa missions, I did not
really know what my job would look like and neither did Ron. I was Ron’s first
missionary associate, which made our time together a time of trial and error.
We have learned so much over the past 10 months both the easy way and the hard
way. The move to Virginia was harder than any I had done before. It was hard to
be in the states but still be so far from home. It was hard to adjust to a job
that wasn’t a routine of nine to five every day. But as always, God was and is
with me. As time went on and I settled into life in Virginia, I fell in love
with it. I love the weather and the landscape, I love the church I attend, I
love my job and the opportunities God gave me to travel to Southern Africa but most
of all, I love my friends here.
God has used my time in Virginia to
change me and grow me in so many ways. I am experiencing freedom in Christ in a
way I never thought possible because God continues to show me who I am in Him
and who He created me to be. I have been witness to an example of what it looks
like to live out a relationship with Christ in every moment of every day. I
have learned more of what it is like to live out the mission of spreading the
love of Christ as a lifestyle and not a job. I have experienced what it means
to walk in the presence of God and to allow His presence to guide every decision.
I never expected my time in Virginia to change me the way it has, which was a
gross underestimation of who God is in our lives. God does not desire for us to
live mediocre lives and is instead allowing us to live lives of grand
adventure.
With that in mind, it is time for
me to move from Virginia. I said before that the move to Virginia was harder
than any I had done before, but now I believe the move from Virginia is going
to be harder than any I have done before. The way I have experienced God here and
the friends I have made here have made Virginia home. But I know God’s heart is
for His people, including me, and He is faithful to love us and guide us. That
is why, although I am sad to leave Virginia, I am excited that God has provided
an opportunity for me to move to Baton Rouge and participate in an internship
with Healing Place School of Ministry and Children’s Cup.
Healing Place School of Ministry
(HPSM) provides accredited Bible classes and an opportunity for hands-on
ministry all in one. I will be taking Bible classes at HPSM and doing my
hands-on ministry at Children’s Cup. Children’s Cup is a missions organization
that has been providing food, education, medical care and love to children thru
various Care Points over the last twenty years. Children’s Cup has established
these Care Points in three countries in Southern Africa as well as in Vietnam
and the Philippines. God has given all of us the desire to share His love with
and care for His people around the world. From the time I have spent in
Southern Africa, God has developed a spot in my heart that aches for the souls
there. I believe God is giving me the opportunity to reach out to those people
through Children’s Cup.
I will start the internship with
HPSM and Children’s Cup August 16th and will participate in the
full-time course option, which will allow me to graduate in May with an
associate’s degree in Biblical studies.
