...the day I signed the camp application with Bring Me Hope?
...the day we first heard of that ministry?
...the day I responded to God's call on my life and asked Him into my heart at our kitchen table before lunch?
...the day I was born?
...the day my parents were married?
...the day God first thought to make me apart of His world?
Or... was it when He first thought to create this universe???
I guess I will never really know, because none of us can really understand the deep workings of God's mind. But I like to imagine that it has been on His mind since the day He thought of me. No, not just imagine, but know!
Just like I don't know when the story first started, neither do I know when I really knew I wanted to be a missionary. I know there have been seeds planted along the way; riveting stories of brave women like Mary Slessor, Amy Carmichael, and Gladys Alyward; a message preached by our friends who spent four years in Guatemala, on what it takes to be a missionary; those words my mom spoke to me after a frugal move in the kitchen when I was only thirteen - "Wouldn't Nicole make a great missionary?!"; monthly reports from friends who had left our church to be missionaries to Ghana, Africa; sponsoring a little Kenyan girl and learning more over the years how needy so many people are across the world.
Each event was like a log thrown on a fire and it has grown from little sparks to a burning fire in my heart from when I was just a young teenager, that I wanted to be a missionary. I never really cared where I would go... so long as there were children there. They were what tugged at my heart the hardest, deepest and longest. I remember one time I thought I wanted to go to Vietnam. Then there was Africa. Central or South America would have been fine too. But never China. That was the country my Dad had a burden for. Not mine.
Funny how God has His ways of changing our minds!
"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
and how shall they hear without a preacher?"
Romans 10:14
5 comments:
Hey Girl!
Cute blog! So when do you actually leave? We want to pray for your trip as you are flying and stuff! ;o) Missed seeing you at Beth's birthday party! ;o) God bless!
Love ya tons!
Hey Abi!
I missed seeing you at Bethie's party too! Sounds like you had a really fun time.
I leave thirteenth of July and return on the twenty-fourth.
I really appreciate your prayers!
Love ya too!
Nicole
Hi Nic!
We will be praying for you!
I so enjoy the blog! We can't wait to hear all about it when you come home!
Love you!!
Abi
hi nic,
i like your pics! tiffy said i had to leave you a comment. i don't know what to say. this is a cool blog. i'll be praying for you.
love you,
rae
Just like I don't know when the story first started, neither do I know when I really knew I wanted to be a missionary. I know there have been seeds planted along the way; riveting stories of brave women like Mary Slessor, Amy Carmichael, and Gladys Alyward;...
Reading your thoughts I began to wonder... "Do I have a twin???"
:D
I am so excited for you, that you got to go to China! The Lord is so good! God bless you, and keep serving HIM!
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