The long and winding road to my first Mission Trip..today is the day 6807 air miles to go!

Fellow China Followers,

Well, the day has finally arrived. I wanted to share my story leading up to this day. I presented this testimony to our Missions Board and thought I'd swing it by you all. Please excuse any spelling errors or pronunciation errors...I was a big goof off in high school....and really need to take and English course.

As a Christian, I believe God places specific people in our lives, helping us grow in our relationship with Christ, and helping us discover our passions and purpose. What an exciting job he has!

The first time I can remember studying about missionaries was in GA's around 1976. I enjoyed singing the 'Girls in Action' song, and studying about Missionaries helping others in far away lands. Thinking about the whole world seemed SO LARGE for a girl growing up in Florissant, Mo.

In 1991 at the age of 22, I was carpooling at my current employer with a girl named Melissa. Melissa was getting her RN degree. Melissa's desire and purpose was strictly to go to a 3rd world country and work as a missionary in the health field. Melissa was a Christian and used to always aggravate me by stirring my heart; she would always say "You know, this is what we're supposed to be doing, serving God, helping others, leading others to Christ." In my heart, I knew it too, but I couldn't see beyond my own wants. I admired her and loved being around her, but as for me serving others, especially in another country, much less my own, I was too wrapped up in myself, I was planning my wedding and getting our first house..it was 'all about me'.

By 2004 Nick and I had two handsome little boys. Nick and I were Christians, and were attending a Non-Denominational church. In 2001, we had moved to Columbia, Il and built our 'dream house'; I guess you could say we were living the "American Dream" by the world's standards. One day, I had stumbled up an article in a magazine about Franklin Graham (Billy Graham's son). Franklin's Autobiography, "Rebel with a Cause" was advertised in the article and I decided to read it. God started stirring my soul as I read this book. I read of his many experiences with missionaries being prayer warriors...depending on God for everything, countries in turmoil, and people that were in his life helping him discover Christ through their work and their world. My desires were starting to change. As I sat in my fancy house, that I had spent so much of my time, my mind and our money on, I knew I was starting to desire something more than 'things' I was starting to desire a much stronger relationship w/Christ and started desiring passions and purposes I didn't even know I had!

Since 2004, a lot has changed in my life. 11 months ago, we sold our dream house and downsized, so we can devote more money to serving Christ. I've discovered what is most important, being Ambassadors for Christ, serving others, witnessing to others; all the things my friend Melissa knew at such a young age.

We have a HUGE world out there with so much hurt..it's overwhelming! As Bob Pierce who is the founder of World Vision and Samaritans Purse once said, "Don't fail to do something just because you can't do everything" this has really spoke to me. China is my 'something' for now.

A few scriptures are shaping my heart right now ... there are SO MANY in the Bible...but I will share these:

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" 1 John 4:17 (NIV)

"So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:6 (NIV)

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" James 1:27 (NIV)

I will try to update as much as I can....I am not computer savvy...so not sure how it will all work.

Love,

~C~