2 Weeks Notice

2 weeks to go...
I'm starting to get a little nervous, which I guess is normal, right? I know it will all be fine and work out amazingly well. But I am a planner, an organizer and I like to know what is ahead of me. I think we all do. And at this point, a lot of things are really vague. Its all going to be an adventure and I guess oddly enough that is what I am looking forward to the most -- the unpredictability of it.

I had the pleasure of sharing with my parents' home church about my trip. It was nice to be able to tell more people about this next phase in my life and what God is doing in the Dominican Republic. It also got me thinking a lot about my life these past few years and the journey that has lead me to this move.

For any of you who did not know me as a child, I was a lot different than I am now (at least I think so). I was at times a very angry, frustrated and lonely child who had a hard time dealing with the world around me. We moved a lot and I often felt as though I was in survival mode 24/7. I have grown a lot in the last 10 or 15 years and have become more confident in myself, in God and His love and of His plans for my future. This has helped to take away the anger and fear and focus me on the path in front of me.

I think a major turning point was our move to South Korea where I was able to see first hand poverty in Korea and China and different lifestyles around the world there and in Australia and Guam. I thought that in college I would pursue pre-law and go to law school. But within my second year, I had a passion for non-profit work and a desire to help people. I began looking for jobs with the UN, Red Cross, Samaritan's Purse, Habitat for Humanity, etc. but could not find a job suitable for someone coming right out of college. So, I decided in February of my senior year of undergrad to take the GRE and apply to grad school.

In graduate school I was involved in a campus ministry where I was presented with the opportunity to go on a missions trip to the Dominican Republic. A truly life changing trip, I was able to spend time alone with God and draw close to Him. Also, on this trip I fell in love with the people of the Dominican. It was such a great trip that I decided to lead the following Spring Break trip to the DR for my church.

If you had asked me as a child or a teenager what I would be doing after college, I never would have said or guessed that I would be a missionary. I might have said doctor, lawyer, veterinarian, but not missionary or even international aid worker. And yet now as I look back, I can see how the Lord was preparing me to make that transition. How He was setting out the bricks of the path and leading me to this field and to the Dominican Republic. For one thing, I didn't want to go to college, let alone graduate school. I got out of there as quickly as I could. And after the first quarter of grad school, I hated it so much that I wanted to give up my scholarship and quit. But the Lord had me there for a reason. Maybe to join the church I am in now was part of it, but mostly I believe it was to go on that first trip to the DR. And even then, I still would not have guessed that I would be moving to Cielo. Not even on the trip this past year. But God was slowly preparing my heart for what He had for me. And now I am so excited to see what He has in store for Cielo, the Dominican Republic and my life!

2 more weeks and I will be in Cielo, living with the people that I have come to consider a part of my family. I cannot wait!

Also, a fundraising update: 73% of support raised. :)
Blessings,
Anna