Undeniable.

It all started the summer of 2007.


I was fourteen. I had just finished 8th grade; walked my last hours in the halls of middle school and the sun had already started to bring out the freckles on my cheeks. I didn't have a care in the world... life was simple and revolved around hanging out with friends, my family, and God. :)

In June of 2007, I went on my very first mission trip to Juarez, Mexico, with my church. It was during that week that my view of the world changed. For the first time I witnessed poverty; the trash strewn ground, the barefoot children, the dirt floors. It's true that no one fully understands it till the see it in the flesh. You can watch movies portraying it, look at pictures, and hear stories, but you will NEVER comprehend it until it's staring you in the face. It has to be experienced. And as my heart fell apart while I held the childrens' tanned hands and looked into their dark eyes, I realized this: we are all the same, every human being that has walked the earth. Each thirsty for love and acceptance, each broken and hopelessly flawed, each wildly loved by their maker... and each only completed in him.

It was that week that I discovered my love for missions. Nothing had made me feel so on top of the world, life had never been more beautiful. I knew it would not be the last trip I went on.

During the weeks after I got home... I can't really explain what happened. Honestly, I don't know how to put it into words, but I'll try my best. God put the desire and dream to go to Africa in me. I just woke up one day, Africa popped into my head, and I couldn't think of anything else. It wasn't even a specific country on the continent, just Africa. I prayed about it, and he confirmed that yes... this is where I would be someday. So I decided that with the first opportunity I was given I would go.

Fast forward three years. Over the past summer, three of my friends went on ambassador trips with AIM. When they came home I heard endless stories of all the great experiences they had. They mentioned to me that there was a trip to Uganda (I've been set on going there since I watched Invisible Children), and it seemed to good too be true. I doubted that it could actually be time to go. After waiting for so long, when the opportunity finally arose all I could think of was "What if I'm supposed to go later? Is this the right time? I feel like I set this up, not God." So after a few weeks of confusion, I was given some advice. If he wants me to go, it will happen, if not, he can stop it. So I went ahead and applied for this trip. I was interviewed and accepted to go on October 26.

I have no doubts now that this is right :). I couldn't possibly see myself doing anything else... this has been my dream for so long :). Though I am sad that this year I won't be able to participate in my last dance recital after being with the same studio since I was 7, this summer will be the first summer in 11 years that I won't be spending time at Camp Rivercrest, and that a good chunk of the time that I would probably be enjoying my last moments with all my high school friends will be spent on another continent, I know that what I have in store is beyond my imagination. While all of the things I could be doing instead would make me happy... God has bigger plans. And I can trust that it's going to be perfect :).

Proverbs 16:9
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.


-Emily