Before the Adventure Begins...

I've decided to go on an Adventure... Not just an adventure with a small A, but an Adventure, a big, long, challenging, crazy Adventure.

The back story of this Adventure spans almost 10 years, but I'll t keep it short. When I was in high school, I decided that I wanted to know what plan God had for my life, so I begin to pray about it very diligently. After some time he revealed to me that he wanted me to serve in the missions field. At that point, I didn't have any clue in what capacity or even where, just that this was where he would eventually take me.

Tihany, Hungary

In 2008, I attended a fundraising banquet for Wycliffe Associates, an organization that provides support personnel for Bible translators. At the banquet, I learned that there are over 6,000 languages in the world, and that less than 600 languages have a completed Bible translation. I also realized that missionaries weren't just the people that went out into the bush and preached the word of God, they were also accountants, carpenters, teachers, and managers. I also met several missionaries that worked for Wycliffe Associates and I signed up to receive more information about serving with them. That summer, just months afterwards, I found myself flying off to Hungary to serve for 2 weeks as a Vacation Bible School teacher for missionary kids. All of the Bible translators gather together every two years for meetings and rejuvenation. During my two weeks there, I met a lot of missionaries from all over the word, worked with some wonderful kids, and got my first taste of international travel. I was hooked.

Kathmandu, Nepal

The next year, I found myself in a similar circumstance, only this time I was headed off to Nepal. Nepal was an eyeopener for me. I learned what life was like in a third world country, and how beautiful it could all be in spite of the poverty of the country. To this day, the country of Nepal still holds a piece of my heart. 

In the intervening years, I stayed on Wycliffe Associates recruitment list, which meant that they would send me emails with service opportunities. I didn't feel led to go on any mission trips, but missions and the world outside of the US was never far from my mind.

In March, I received an email from Wycliffe Associates saying that one of their missionaries was looking for a teacher to come and homeschool their two kids. They were looking for someone that could help to supplement their current homeschooling program and help develop their childrens' extracurricular activities. They lived in the city of Manado, Indonesia and were looking for someone that would be willing to come for the school year. They were also willing to allow whoever came to stay with them, if so desired. 

As soon as I read this email I knew that God wanted me to take this position. I didn't hear some great audible voice from the heavens, my heart just knew. It's hard to explain what exactly it was, but I just know without the shadow of a doubt that this is what God wants me to do. 

At the end of August I will be saying goodbye to my friends, family, and home and saying hello to country of Indonesia. It will be challenging, but I know that it will be a good experience for me. At the end of my time in Indonesia, I will have a broader outlook on life. I will speak (with some degree of proficiency) another language. I will have faced challenges and obstacles that probably don't even exist in the US. I will have the satisfaction of knowing that I have done something brave, and crazy, and maybe life changing. I will have gone on an Adventure.