When I was graduating with my teaching degree, I looked into some schools in Fort Collins. God gently shut those doors. At the same time, I felt God pulling me into overseas ministry. I actually felt this pull even when I was young. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher because I loved kids and lesson planning! My aunt and uncle were missionaries, and my grandparents had been missionaries in North Dakota. My other grandma had a heart for missions and so did my parents. Hearing stories of my family on the field and other families that my parents supported in the mission field really drew me. In my last year of school, I felt a desire to teach in an international Christian school in Europe and I began searching. In conversations with my uncle, he encouraged me to check into international Christian schools in different parts of the world. His heart is in Nepal, Papua New Guinea and other parts of Asia. He shared that God's plan for me may not be what I expect. I should step forward in faith and let God shut any doors or windows He does not want me to go through. I applied to different schools in Africa, Japan, Norway, and looked at other possibilities keeping my options open. God gently and firmly shut those doors as well. For the past 7+ years, I had been working at Christ Fellowship Church Child Development Center (CFCCDC). When I was student teaching, they called a new pastor, Brian Post and his wife Bonnie. After graduating, I continued to work at the childcare center. Brian and Bonnie approached me one day and asked what my future plans were. I explained that I was looking for an international Christian school in Europe where I could impact students lives on the mission field. Before being called to pastor the church in Fort Collins, Brian and Bonnie and their family were serving at Black Forest Academy in Germany. They both became really excited, invited me over for New Year's Day in 2013 and shared their experiences and passion for BFA. I applied a few days later, had an interview, was accepted by TeachBeyond (mission organization) and started support raising in May and April of 2013. I attended the TeachBeyond orientation in June and continued preparing to live overseas through praying, purging, packing, re-packing, enlisting friends to help me pack (Thanks Becca!), and many more tiny details before leaving the US. I arrived in Germany at the end of October 2013 and began my adventure at BFA!
Thanks to all of you who helped me get here and had faith in me! More importantly, you had faith in God that He has a plan! You are the reason I am here! I know I say this over and over but cannot say it enough! I am so blessed by each one of you! Your commitment and faithfulness to pray and give has touched so many lives and continues to do so! Thank you for your support and encouragement! May the God we both serve continue to touch each of your lives for His glory!
No comments:
Post a Comment