"So we are always
of good courage. We
know that while we
are at home in the body
we are away from the
Lord, for we walk by faith,
not by sight."
II Corinthians 5:6-7
Part of the Peru team!
Greetings, loved ones! As a new chapter in my life begins to unfold, I've decided to
change the blog along with it. I hope you enjoy the new pictures and updates along
with the new stories and adventures!
As most of you know, the Lord has called me to Peru next year! This is a
tremendous change, but I am very excited for this new journey. Philadelphia was a
great experience and I miss my friends and students there, but I am looking forward
to what Peru will have in store this upcoming year. Some of you are aware of the
path that the Lord took me on that has lead to this decision, but for those of you who
do not know how this came about, I would like to take a moment to share
it with you...
For the past six years of my life I have been praying about doing mission work in
Latin America. Many of these prayers were prompted and encouraged by short term
trips I took to places like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama. It was especially in
those moments that I felt the Holy Spirit tugging on my heart to stay for an extended
period of time and serve the people in this region. In college I was blessed to be
able to study Spanish and missions which continued to encourage my desire to do
mission work somewhere in Central or South America.
Throughout college it was my intent to serve overseas after I graduated. I
believe that our God prepares us in many different ways for the future ways that He
is going to call us to serve Him and at the time I saw my time at Concordia
University as a preparation for the mission field. During my senior year I contacted
multiple mission organizations that worked in Latin America, however, all the
positions that were offered to me never seemed like the right opportunity. I prayed
over each one and talked to many different mentors about some of those positions,
but the Lord never extended His calling. Instead, the assurance came with an
opportunity to go to Philly and teach at an elementary school while beginning my
Master's degree in education. I was placed in a school that was vastly Hispanic
and thought that perhaps the love I had for working in this culture was for my time in
Philadelphia. It was, but I later found out that it was also for much more that lies
ahead.
Though thankful for the experience I was having in Philadelphia, I did continue to
take a look at some websites for mission organizations thinking that in the future I
may still desire to go overseas. One day while I was skimming some opportunities,
I came across a position in Peru that seemed ideal for me. It was a position as a
relationship builder through teaching English as a foreign language with LCMS
World Mission. I e-mailed the coordinator to find out more about the position. After
about a four month application process, much mentorship, and prayer I ended up
taking the position.
I am extremely excited to be serving in Peru and am blessed to have a wonderful
team to be serving with. I was able to meet many of them at missionary orientation
in Chicago a few weeks ago. LCMS World Mission has been doing work in Peru
for about two and a half years now. The original response was disaster relief due
to an earthquake that hit a portion of the country. Since working there, many
relationships have been built and more opportunities to serve have developed.
One of these areas of service is teaching English which is where my role comes in.
I will teach youth and adults at a community center in an area about two and a half
hours southeast of Lima.
What a blessing it is for all of us to serve in whatever capacity the Lord calls us to!!
As we walk by faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, may we remember to keep
our eyes fixed upon Him who loves us and praise him for the countless ways He
pours His grace out upon us!
