A Journey continues

About 18 years ago, before I was aware of the reality of “a missionary to Africa,” I remember telling my mom that was what I wanted to be when I grew up. Who really wants to grow up to be a missionary to Africa? What happened to being a veterinarian or astronaut or even a teacher… Nonetheless, that was a desire the Lord had planted in my heart and to this day it is something that is still being played out. 

Fast forward to 2003. It was my senior year of high school, it seemed like my life was falling apart all around, me and it was time to make a decision. 1. Join the Navy 2. Go to college 3. Follow the family tradition of starting a family (I love my sisters and their kids, and I am so very blessed to have them in my life!). I ended up following option 2. I moved to Abilene to attend Hardin-Simmons University. There were many good times, many bad times and a lot of God kicking me in the butt. I started out at as a Pre-physical therapy major, but had pretty much given up on life and school. My first semester’s GPA was something like a 1.4. In short…this was BAD. I had to bring my GPA up or I would be on academic probation. And then I became a music major. 

2004 was the first time I had ever left the country. I went with my college group to Ireland and was absolutely blown away. Through my church I was also able to go to Mexico and Israel. That stirred up those desires I had suppressed about being a missionary to Africa. One afternoon in Mexico I was laying in my tent, spending time with the Lord and journaling about all that I had been experiencing. I remember that was the moment I had felt “the call” to missions. I didn’t know what it would look like or how it was going to happen, but missions was my goal. 

2005 I went to Kosovo with Adventures In Missions. I took a two year break in my schooling to hopefully get more of an understanding of what life should look like, what the Lord desired from me and how to go about doing it (as well as pursuing missions). I lived in Georgia, helped out in the office, built many relationships and experienced God’s amazing grace. The following year I went to New Zealand for 9 months. I loved it. I loved serving, sharing Jesus with others and loving on them. But I knew that the Lord was pulling me back towards school. 

2007 I returned to Hardin-Simmons and tried to pick my life back up where I had left it. (That didn’t work out so well). I felt like I had more of a direction in life, just wasn’t sure how to accomplish this goal of mine. I wanted to finish up school as quick as possible so I could get back to doing missions. I changed my major again to Missions, but was taking classes that led to me getting into nursing school. 

And then 2008 came, and I ended up co-leading a massive team to Jeffreys Bay, South Africa. I had no idea what the Lord had in store for me, but looking back, it has all been a part of the learning, training, growing and seeking process. So many things happened in that year. (On top of my leading responsibilities, I also thought it brilliant to take classes online…not so smart on my part). 

I returned to Texas in 2009, this time attending Dallas Baptist University instead of HSU. There were different reasons for this, but my end goal was to finish up all the classes I couldn’t take online, return to Swaziland as staff, and finish up my education at DBU through online classes. 

And as many of you know, it is the middle of October 2011. I am still in Dallas and not in Swaziland. My heart remains there and when I see pictures of the faces, run into people that know Swazi, or just moments I’m able to catch up with some of my team, I am reminded that my time here in Texas is a time of teaching, healing and training. I finished up one degree and went right into more school. There were classes I needed to take so I could get into nursing school and that’s where I am now. I had applied to Baylor University’s nursing program. It’s one of the few 4 year nursing schools in the area, and after visiting the campus, I knew that was where I wanted my education. I applied back in April and heard that I was on a standby list in June. There was somewhat of a disappointment. However, this wasn’t a no. I’m convinced Jesus likes to reveal things to me in his timing since I tend to be in control (or live in the allusion that I’m in control). 

Then some of the greatest news came. I had started to become discouraged that I hadn’t heard back from BU, but I knew there was nothing I could do to change this decision. On Wednesday I received a phone call while I was in class (no I didn’t answer it). Then I received an email that popped up and said, “Congratulations. I am pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into the nursing program.”If I hadn’t been in class, I would have been doing the biggest happy dance one could imagine me doing. 

I realize I have just given you a novel. I have tried to sum it up, but I felt like I needed to provide a background of how the Lord has brought me back to him. I am going to nursing school. In January I will be enrolled and will be a nursing student. It’s still surreal to me, but I’m so excited! There is still quite a bit I need to get done (and it has to be done before November 15), but the excitement about this next chapter in my life outweighs the overwhelmingness that wants to creep up. It’s like I’ve known the “ending” of the story, but I have been working my way through the rest of the story. I know there is still so much more that can be written, but this is a lot of writing already (and I could keep going). 

Thank you all for your prayers during this time. I can’t believe nursing school is right around the corner!!!