Spewing Thoughts on "The Next Step"

Allow me to bring you up to speed on how this came about:

At Urbana (summarized in previous entry), we were encouraged to fill out commitment cards outlining how we were going to serve God in the future. I have mine and looked at it again recently to see what I had said. Turns out I committed to "serve in global or cross-cultural missions for 1-3 years outside North America." I didn't realize then how soon that would become a reality.

Early next year, I plan to move to La Plata, Argentina for two years to do missions work on a college campus with The Navigators. There is a really cool story of how I reached that place. That decision-making process extended over 6 months.

This past fall I had the itch to go abroad. I wanted to use my Spanish. I feel strongly that I should use this degree I've acquired. I encountered a child at church who only spoke Spanish and was able to do some translating to help her feel more comfortable in a strange, big place. I was thrilled that my knowledge could help someone. Anyway I began exploring overseas opportunities. There were too many to choose from! I decided to stick with The Navigators--an organization that I am very familiar with. I trust them and agree with their vision. They have helped me to thrive in my college years. And they had something in Argentina that caught my eye.

I took steps in that direction. Eventually, I got in touch with the staff there. We spent an hour on the phone over winter break and I felt like I connected with them instantly. It's pretty rare for me to feel that way about someone I've never met. I was so excited about what they were doing. That wasn't enough. I didn't want to go by myself. A few prospective teammates fell through along the way. Then to my surprise, a friend of mine expressed interest. I never would have imagined that I would do this with someone I already knew. But that didn't do it for me either. I had started to talk myself out of it. Two years seemed like a big commitment. I didn't want to go that far away to a place I have never been to, leaving everything and everyone familiar behind. Eventually I realized that those reasons were because of fear and that wasn't a good excuse. Fear paralyzes. I don't want fear to stop me from living. Still, I wanted certainty that Argentina was where I was supposed to be. I prayed that God would direct me clearly. I wanted him to speak to me. He did.

I opened up my Bible to Hebrews chapter 11. The first verse said, "Now faith is being sure of what we have hoped for and certain of things unseen." I spent some time meditating on what I was hoping for out of the next stage of my life. I am hoping to grow and mature through using my talents and being challenged by new experiences. I am hoping to help others find the hope, joy, and purpose of life that I have, for starters. The last part of the verse made it clear that I could be confident that even though I have never seen Argentina, I have a desire to go there. That day I also read a passage that talked about fear and stated that I have no reason to be afraid. Finally, I decided that was enough assurance and filled out my application. Not too long after that I was accepted with my teammate. That's basically the story that begins this adventure.

In order to do what I'm doing, I need to raise money. It's kind of scary especially with the state of the economy these days. I don't like asking for help to begin with, being conditioned to be independent, so asking people for financial support is not easy. I know that it will be beneficial doing it this way though. There will be times in the Southern hemisphere when I will be discouraged and homesick, but I will remember that I have dozens of people truly invested in what I am doing to keep me going.

I am so appreciative of people who are generously and faithfully supporting me with financial gifts and prayer! I can't thank them all enough for the encouragement they are to me.