Living a life that Matters

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.   Micah 6:8

My Pastor preached on this passage at church a couple of weeks back and what God requires of us as believers. We have been talking together in our missional community on justice and what this looks like for us and our surrounding community. I personally have been looking at this for myself as well and what God wants me to be doing in my own walk for this coming new year. A couple weeks ago I was able to put together a missions wall that has served as a reminder of how God has used me during those five years on the mission field. Making that wall really has stirred up my heart. As I have been going through some of my old stuff, I have been reading old journals of my journey. I have discovered that I have really held back in using my gifts and talents that God have given me this past year. Some of it is because he has been refining me and some of it is because I haven’t been focused on God’s will. God gave me a heart for the world. I have such a deep passion to engage and evangelize with other cultures. I have been spending a lot of time with several of my friends that have been on the mission field lately. Just hearing their stories has gotten me to get on my knees and pray to God about where he wants me to be. Through some connections with some missions organizations I have known, I am excited to say God has opened up opportunities for me to be back on the mission field this summer and in the Fall. I am locked in and excited to finally be back to doing things I’m passionate about.

I also have decided to return to school as a full-time student. Part of my schooling will be getting back into photography (primarily for missions and justice purposes). I have been blessed to be at a church loaded with photographers and they have been receptive in helping teach me some skills. In fact, my friend Keira is using her own business to help raise awareness for the sex trafficking. Another course I am excited to be taking is called Encountering the World of Islam. It’s a class designed to learn about the Muslim culture and how to engage with them. I have always had a heart for Muslims. Ironically I have a couple in my MC that works for Frontiers – an organization that sends missionaries into Muslim countries. I am really excited to be taking this course and to be engaging with Muslims here in the valley. My hope is to work in a Muslim country in the very near future. I feel very blessed for these opportunities and thankful to God for his calling.