Week 6: How we got here

Last week flew by and I didn't get a chance to write, but I'm going to make it up in a different way. Next week on the Week 7 entry I'll give more details and updates about what's been going on here, but for this week I wanted to tell the story of how I made it to Kenya in the first place, and how it was clear that this was the plan God had for me this year. I'll try and not get caught up in details too much, but the gist is that God was orchestrating the plans from day one.

My whole college experience I had a vision to do a year abroad in Argentina. I had cousins there, my parents had gone there for undergrad, and my background is half Argentinean so it would be a good way to experience my culture. When I started out at Andrews, I kept pushing this "year abroad" further and further down the road, until I got to my third year (the one I just completed). To keep a long story short, I was faced with two options: start the DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) program in the fall, or take a year off and start the year after that. And both of those had zero pull. Then over winter break I started seeing the idea of student missions everywhere, and that carried on into the start of spring semester! Some friends of mine, even my boyfriend, were considering student missions. After more and more nudges towards the idea, one day in a meeting with the pre-pt students, I was pushed over the edge when a current DPT student was talking about her experience doing both SM and going into the DPT program. This was one of my concerns, since I would be starting grad school right after this year. But hearing this was even more reassurance that this was a big possibility for me. I went straight to my friend Ceiry who was working in that building, and I told her, "What if I did student missions next year?". Not long after, I told Jeffrey and my other friends and family (all of whom were excited and supportive) that this was something that I was considering. That was the beginning!

As soon as the switch flipped in my head, I could tell that this was what I was meant to do this year. I don't know exactly if it was just the thrill of a new idea, but I felt a different kind of excitement and spark when I thought about student missions that I hadn't felt for any of my options for the next year. Just from past SMs, I knew this year would be a very necessary shift from my fast-paced, self oriented life. On top of this, I was really seeking a refreshing renewal of my spiritual life. I had let myself be on autopilot, stressing about things that benefited only me, for a long while. Serving for a year would be the reset that was much needed in my life.

Now it was time to choose where I was going! I knew I wanted to work with children, since I loved working at summer camp as a counselor. A lady came to chapel one day who was the director of a children's home in Zimbabwe, and after seraching them up on their website, I was immediately interested! The student missionary description sounded like my previous job as a counselor, and I was totally on board. I spoke to Teela, our coordinator, about this option and she was just as excited! And then things came to a halt. After emailing multiple times and waiting for weeks and weeks, I didn't hear from them at all and wasn't receiving communication from that location. I had been feeling God's pull from the moment I'd decided to serve, and this seemed like a clear shut door. This was already near the end of the year, so time was sneaking up on me to find somewhere to go.

Teela called me one day to look at other options, and that's when she suggested the location in Kenya, the Olmalaika Trust. She sent me their site, and immediately I already had so much more information about this location and what this year would look like. Now, Jeffrey was looking at Kendu Bay in Kenya, and I was praying earnestly that this wouldn't sway me to choose somewhere God didn't want me to be. This was so much to the point where I almost said no for fear of going for selfish reasons. But I left it up to God, and waited it out. I scheduled a call with Kim, the director, and it was nothing but green flags, both in her and the job description. A while later, I scheduled another call with my parents and her, and they got the same impression!

This whole time I was still open to other possibilities, but none seemed to be as strong as this one, so one day in May, it was decided finally that I would be going to Kenya! And God has been leading ever since. Finances were another thing that couldn't be ignored, since we had to raise money both for the fee, flight tickets, paperwork, and the rest of the year. But by God's blessing, Jeffrey's grandmother is part of a foundation that sponsored both me, him and his friend Rece's SM fees! And on top of that, many of our family friends have been graciously donating to help make all this possible. To all the people who have helped support this year, either financially, emotionally, or most of all in prayer, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. God has been working and I know with certainty that His plan led me here, and I hope to repay the generosity that has been shown to me. Of course, this story is very much summarized, but the point is that it's clear to see God's hand in all of it. Never be afraid of giving up the control in your life, because I could have never fabricated this sort of plan on my own. More SM life related stuff to come soon!