Looking Back

As it nears Christmas I take a look back on where the past year has taken me. There have been a lot of changes this year. A year ago I would never have suspected where I would end up. A year ago today, I was attending the “Lanterra” Christmas party (the Property Management Company I was working for). It was not a place I really wanted to be because there was a lot of drinking and I left early. I had thought that I might go into Property Management as a career since I seemed to be good at it. Yet the idea of counselling still stayed with me. I had gotten a B.Re. In Counselling and Christian Education from Emmanuel Bible College and had started my M.A. in Professional Counselling through Liberty University Online.

I had been e-mailing with Wayne Matthews (the Director of Mobilization for OMF) since the spring when I had talked to Elinore Reigler (one of the Missionaries I have gotten to know) at Missionfest in Toronto. I had also attended a Conference with OMF but at the time was really unsure if I was called to go to Asia. However, Wayne had arranged for me to meet with an OMF couple on home assignment and this was a lunch that would change my life and set me on a whole new adventure.

I met with Bill and Bonnie W. and they showed me a passion for Asia and for counselling on the mission field that I could believe in. I had dreamed of one day using my counselling on the mission field but every organization that I had previously talked to was not doing that type of ministry yet. I had put it on the back burner and thought it was not going to happen. Bill and Bonnie encouraged me to pursue that dream and see where it would lead. I decided to apply with OMF and see what GOD had in store for me.

This was not an easy year for my family though. Near the end of January my grandmother went into the hospital for a blood transfusion and nine weeks later she passed away, never leaving the hospital. This was very hard for all of us. I never got to tell her that I was accepted by OMF or that I was going to be a missionary. This was something she had always prayed for and believe would happen. I like to think that grandma got to watch as I was accepted.

I attended Candidate Course in June having very little clue as to where I would go. Some people know where they want to go but have no idea what they are called to do there. Others know what they are called to do but have no idea where they will do it. I definitely fell into the second category. I had a lot of counsel from my family and those at OMF before it was decided that I would be in Chaing Mai, Thailand for my first term, working with the dorms there. I would get to follow my dream after all of working with Third Culture Kids (TCKs).

Through all of this, however, I was struggling with my job. Things were not good in my company and no one was sure what would happen. There was a lot of anger and it did not feel like a safe or comfortable work environment. I had talked to those at Candidate Course about my situation and asked them to pray with me about a solution. After Candidate Course I continued to look for other work but nothing came up.

The last week of July I received an e-mail from Nancy Stephens (the Candidate Cordinator) concerning the position of Serve Asia Administrator at the OMF head office; that was on Monday. Serve Asia is OMF’s Short Term Missions Discipleship Program. I met with Richard and Kathy (the OMF National Director and his wife) on the Tuesday and on Thursday I turned in my two week notice at my job. I started at OMF on August 15th and I have had a blast working at the office. There is so much to learn and discover in this position and I am getting to meet so many interesting people. The people I work with, either at the office or the Serve Asia Workers, have a passion for missions and a desire to change the world. I feel so blessed that I get to be a small part of it.

There are many workers in varied stages of the application process and each of them has a different reason for desiring to serve God in this way and a different passion that drives them. Some are applying to do internships. They want to pursue their education but also gain some experience on how their profession is used in Asia or in missions. Others are seeking to know what God has for them in the future, possibly missions in a more permanent role. Others simply seek to serve God during breaks from work or school. All of them, however, love God and desire for His love to shine through them. I ask you to pray for each of them as they strive to serve God and do His will.

The hope and the plan is for me to head out to the field for the July Orientation Course in Singapore in 2013. With every passing day I grow more excited to see the country and the people I have already started to love. As I talk to people that have been there or are also serving in Thailand, I learn more things that just confirm to me that all of this is God’s plan and He arranged all of this for His glory. The long term goal is for me to join the Member Care team in Chaing Mai, Thailand in my second term and continue using the gifts and education that God has given me for His glory. I have dreamed of being able to do counselling right on the field where the people are. My prayer is that I will be a help to those on the field and an encouragement to those that need me.

Christmas brings with it a busy time for my work, my church and my family. The church where I attend, Peel International Baptist Church, has a deep love for Christmas. This means that there is always many events and parties to attend. Last weekend we held our annual Christmas Cantata, HOPE Is Born Emmanuel! Many visitors came and many good remarks were received. It is interesting to attend a church that is mostly from an different culture. Aspects of their Filipino background continue to shine through and this can make it hard at times to truly feel like you fit in. We love the church however, and ask that you keep them in your prayers as they strive to do the will of God. Please pray for my dad as well, that he would be able to keep up with the demands of being a single pastor church.

We recently hired a Youth Worker for the church. This has been both a good and interesting event this year. In many ways it has freed up my father to do other things. I know he does miss spending time with the youth. Both of my parents have started teaching bible studies and reaching out to others in the church in a very real and tangible way.

Courses are being finished up this week. Martha has joined me in the student world. She is now taking classes through Moody Online to get her Bible School hours in order to go into missions one day. Her interest lies with the marginalized. Those that the world has forgotten; those in the sex trade, orphans and those with disabilities. Please pray as she finishes up her course and gets ready to take the next in January. Please also pray for guidance as to her next step.

As Christmas approaches this year, I am newly reminded that God loves me and it is His plan for me that is greater than anything I could have imagined. He sent His Son for me because He loved me. My desire for the coming year and every year is to show His love through my life, where ever God places me.