Monday, February 27, 2012

Every Orphans Hope

       Since, I have had several people asking me about what my summer will look like, I decided to dedicate this post to my trip.
       I will be leaving in June with an organization called "Every Orphans Hope", to begin my summer expedition. "Every Orphans Hope" takes 8 orphans from the community and places them in a home with 1 widow. That widow then becomes their mama, and raises them in a family environment to love the Lord and to seek to serve Him. As an intern, I will be assigned a set amount of orphans that will be partially under my care during the duration of my stay. In addition to assisting the Zambian staff, I will also be doing various things with the kids, including bible studies and tutoring. Below is a  video that was taken by one of the team members during last years internships. Hopefully this video will help give you a better idea of what the summer will hold for me and the other interns.
    I am very excited to see what the Lord will do with me as I serve these people! Thank you to all of you who are making this possible for me!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

My Dream: Africa

      I've seen the Lord do some amazing things in my life, but each time,  I am newly amazed to see His hand at work. What He is doing now is no exception. This Summer, the Lord is taking me to Zambia, Africa to do His work for 2 months.

     Somewhere in life, people develop childlike dreams for their life. For some people, these dreams fade away and give way to reality. For others, these dreams become their reality. Those dreams are the very building blocks for their lives. That is the way it was with me. All my life I have had a keen interest in Africa. Ever since I could remember, I have always wanted to visit that continent and see the people and cultures for myself. Then one night, that "dream" became my reality.

     When I was 10 years old, I had a dream about rocking children in a Liberian orphanage. Even though we had never studied Africa, I somehow knew that was where I was. From then on, my attention was slowly drawn to Liberia. A few days after I had that dream, God spoke to me during my devotions and told me I was to be a missionary. I was reading Isaiah 6:8, the verse that changed my life, and has now become my life verse. When I read that verse, I just knew He was speaking to me and telling me to go out as a missionary. From then on, I dedicated my life to the work that the Lord has for me, and promised Him that I would go wherever He leads me.

     Over the years, I have had continuous dreams and verses that have reconfirmed this call. I have strongly felt that He is calling me to a life time of service, as a missionary to Africa. Whether that means working from the US or actually being there, He has not clarified, but I know I will follow either way.  Since then, I have began to study Liberia and the African culture, and have developed a God-given love for the country and people I had never seen or met. Africa has become my "heartland," and Liberia, the country where my heart dwells. It is one of my greatest desires in life, to reach this country and do the work the Lord has planned for me there.That is how my story began. A simple, childhood dream, that has turned into the reality of my life's call.

      Last summer, I felt this quiet call that this summer was going to be special. I felt that He had something planned for this me. As the months past, this call grew stronger, until I knew without a doubt that I was called to Africa this summer. So, having  looked into going there for a summer trip, I have now been accepted as an intern to Zambia. I will be leaving in June to to begin this journey.

     This is my story. The story of the little girl who dedicated her life to the Lord, stepping out in faith and now going to Africa. So please walk with me now, as I stand on the promises of the Lord, to fulfill this call, and complete His desire to finish the work He has started in me. Join me, as we watch the Maker write my life story.

"Here am I, send me"