It all lead me here to this

I have done a few practice rounds now, but I'm still not very familiar with this, so again, bear with me as I figure out what "blogging" is!

For those who haven't heard, or are reading this blog scratching your head, I will fill you in. A couple weeks ago I was accepted to go on a missions trip to Costa Rica. In Costa Rica, I will be working in an orphanage, possibly a medical clinic, to help meet the needs while I'm there. In order for you to understand what this trip means to me, I need to back up to a year ago and explain from there. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the read:

In March of 2010, I was meeting with a girl I was mentoring. I can't even remember what we were talking about, but I mentioned to this girl I would never in a million years go on a missions trip, not even a short term one. My mindset was, "why leave the country when the guy in the car next to me at a stop light doesn't know Jesus?". That is definately a good mindset to be in, BUT I was more using it as an excuse to be irresponsible and disobedient. Not long after I swore off of mission trips, I was bored and procrastinating homework, and randomly decided to look up short term mission trips online. The one to Costa Rica came up and I was very interested in it, oddly enough. I was so interested I filled out one of those "i'm interested" things they have on websites so the director could contact me. He did contact me, and sent me the application.

I won't go into too much detail,  but long story short, I never ended up filling out that application. I could take the cop-out and say God wasn't calling me, but I'll just be honest and say He was calling, I just wasn't willing to respond and react. I was putting MY wants and MY needs ahead of His perfect plan for me, and trust me when I say our relationship paid the price.

In November of 2010, I was on a trip in Seattle/Vancouver with a lot of college students from my church SHEC (South Hills Evangelical Church). After talking to a good friend, Josh Sanders, God revealved through Josh that I was letting fear direct my paths. I was letting selfishness direct my paths. Josh, who had been to Africa and several other mission trips, said something that stuck with me. I asked him what he thought would happen if he died in Africa, or anywhere else he'd gone. His response, "If God wanted me to die in Africa, then I was going to die in Africa. There was no way around it.".

Josh made a very good point that sometimes gets missed. God is SOVEREIGN over EVERYTHING! We see this theme constantly through out scripture. We see it in 1 Samuel 2: 6-7 (The Lord kills and brings to life;he brings down to Sheol and raises up.7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;he brings low and he exalts.). We see it again in Psalm 139:16 (Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book were written, every one of them,the days that were formed for me,when as yet there was none of them). We see it a lot in the Bible. Pretty much, there is no reason for me to fear Costa Rica. 1 John 4:18 states "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."

Since I have been made perfect in God's unending love, He has cast out my fears and on June 26th, 2011 I embark on my first ever mission trip overseas to San Jose, Costa Rica! I am so excited for what God is doing with this, and can't wait to share with everyone, even if they get sick of hearing about it ;). Do I still have fears and unanswered questions? Of course! But do I know and trust my perfect Savior, and know that He knows the answers? Absolutely! 

Support letters will hopefully be going out soon, and one or two more fundraisers are in the works currently! Thanks for taking the time to read this, pray for me, and support God's mission, and me :).

In His Service,
Jess :)

Getting Started!

Thanks for taking the time to check this out! I’m really bad at this stuff so please be patient with me as I learn about blogging (that’s what it’s called right?????).  This is the first blog I’ve ever really made so hopefully I get the hang of this!

Basically, two weeks ago I was accepted to go on a short term missions trip to San Jose, Costa Rica. I will be working in an orphanage for three weeks and I couldn't be more excited (except I get more excited everyday so that's kind of a lie)! I leave June 26th and return on or around July 18th. Right now it's really stressful trying to get everything taken care of, considering the team I'm traveling with is all the way in Buffalo, NY. I am also trying to finish my senior semester of college in two weeks! BUT- the good news is none of this requires MY strength! Everything going on is all God's doing, and believe me, that's the way it needs to be. He's taking care of everything right now and working in my life, and in this ministry i'm preparing for as well!

In the meantime, I’m sending out support letters within the next couple weeks and then starting another project to raise funds (more details to come)! I’m really excited for what is to come, and I thank God so much for everything He has done in my life! I’ll write up a short testimony soon for you all to read, which will explain my mission in Costa Rica this summer. Again, thank you so much for your support. I appreciate so much!

“Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told”- Habakkuk 1:5 (ESV)