Tonight I was sorting a box of childhood mementos when I came across a road map of South America. Ever since I was a little kid I've been fascinated with foreign missions. When I used the map as a homeschooler, I learned about my grandaddy's college roommate, Nate Saint, who was killed while attempting to evangelize the Waodani people in Ecuador. The road I've traveled with God in the last few months has certainly had its turns and twists. Just about two months ago I was laid off from my full-time job at the pharmacy. Although I was sorry to lose the security of a full-time income, I've been excited to concentrate more on my writing work and seek direction in returning to Spain as a career missionary.
Then another twist: I've recently been called short-term to St. Petersburg, Russia, with Student Venture. Deb Lyons, a worship leader at my church, is a worker with Student Venture, which is the high school version of Campus Crusade for Christ. I had read news about her upcoming Russia trip and stopped to talk with her one evening after Bible study. I told her that I was praying for her trip, and she responded that she had been praying -- and that she thought I should go to help her chaperone the high school students and teach English (in order to present the Gospel) to Russian teenagers. What an opportunity!
To be honest, until I prayed more about it, I wasn't extremely excited about the trip. Russia wasn't Spain, I whined. And then all the pieces started falling into place -- my lack of full-time work gave me the time to go, godly friends encouraged me to seek the Lord's will and go, and my family supported me in a decision to go overseas.
And then one of my friends, a Ukrainian girl who recently became a U.S. citizen, told me that it was important that I should go. This girl is not saved, yet knows what I would be doing in Russia.
Now I have to go. And now the Lord's given me excitement about the trip.
One of the weeks of the two-week trip (the last week of March and first week of April) we'll be teaching English at a camp above St. Pete. (Sound familiar? When I saw the photos from last year I was reminded of the camp in Águilas) More than 100 teenagers attended the English camp last year. The other week will be spent in the city proper, teaching English in the public schools.
For more information about the full-time work in Russia, visit Will Rush's blog. Will is a fellow IUP journalism grad and working for Student Venture. You can also view the Student Venture St. Petersburg trip page on Facebook.
Please pray for me as I walk this new road, that I follow the Lord's direction in all of it. Please pray also for my financial support, as I have to raise about $3500 in support for airfare, Russian travel documents and lodging. It's a large amount of money to me, but if God wants me to go I know that He will provide it.
Please also continue to pray for the efforts in Spain. I love that country so much and the Lord loves it way more than I do. Pray for the workers and the ministries there.
