About Me

A little about me

I am a young woman (mid-twenties) from Texas who has embarked on an amazing adventure. I am in Côte d'Ivoire with a team of 9 other young adults in a program called Journey Corps (a ministry of World Venture). This blog is specifically about my journey with my God that has led me to Africa. I tend to be an introvert, which means I don't just automatically think "I need to share this." SO I will make a special effort to share more often now because the Lord has done so much for me and has lead me to go to Côte d'Ivoire this fall! I left on September 12th, 2012. I am excited to share all that the Lord does with me, for me and through me as well as my faults, short comings and mistakes compared to His amazing grace. I am trying to be as real as possible, so please keep me accountable in this! :) 

What will I be doing in Côte d'Ivoire, Africa

I have a degree in Landscape Architecture and I feel strongly that the Lord wants me to use this in cross-cultural ministry. I don't know what this will look like though, so this is my "big audacious hairy goal," as a friend of mine once put it, to learn how to use design to reach people where they are. I also have a huge heart for women who are captive to a broken heart. For instance I volunteered at the pregnancy help center in my home town and loved the work there even though it was really tough sometimes. Since I graduated from University the Lord had given me designs to do on my own for the most part and this volunteer job, both of which I really think were meant to prepare me for the work he will have me do in Africa.

Once I get there, I will be staying at an old baptist school for 3 months while I learn the language and culture (we are done with this now). Then I will move in with a christian Ivorian family who will practically adopt me. I will live just like they do and be involved in the local church. The Journey Corps leadership team will help me and my teammates get plugged into ministries that we are lead to in the community and possibly start another one as a team (with the approval of World Venture only).

Why am I going

This is really a long story, but basically I have always wanted to do what the Lord wants me to do (not that I haven't made plenty of mistakes along the way). Finding that path is not always easy and straight forward though (actually it usually isn't). Along the way though I have often stopped to ask God (because of grace) what he wants me to do and where he is taking me. He has been answering me, and recently it became very clear that my next journey is in Africa. My story reminds me of a maze, I have had no idea where I am going and sometimes why I am going that way, other than the fact that the Lord has answered me when I called. So as I walk along in this maze, every time I come to a choice of turns or I am getting close to a wall I say "which way Father" and he answers me in one way or another and so I go that way. This last time he pretty much had to pull out his shepherd’s staff to pull me in the right direction, but he is so good to have done that and I am confident that because of him I am on the right path!

Journey Corps (a ministry of World Venture) is an excellent program for young adults who are looking into doing cross-culture ministry. The whole idea is to be "transformed by ministry for ministry." I know that my unordinary crazy amazing career is going to be in the field doing ministry, but it is the "how" that pretty much eludes me now. Journey Corps was the answer that God gave me! When he convinced me that he wanted me to go straight into missions, I imaged the method of swimming lessons where someone just throws you in and says SWIM! But when I found Journey Corps I saw that that was not what the Lord had in mind! Praise God! I would have drowned! Journey Corps is that series of much needed actual swimming lessons that will make all the difference in my ministry. So I look forward to learning from the Lord and his people in Côte d'Ivoire as I live along side them and do the good works that the Lord has already planned out for me to do (Eph 2:10).

How you can partner with me

This is a divine human partnership all the way around. He is going to provide for my every need, but he delights in using other people to do that! I have been so blessed to see the Lord's provision through my partners already and I know he is not done yet! I have about 82% of my monthly financial commitment need met and all of my one time financial need met. I have about 46 prayer partners (the very most important job). And only a couple of logistical needs left. Praise God! I hope that every one of my partners is blessed by this ministry that the Lord has led them to be a part of also! If you are one of these partners, thank you! I praise God for each of you! If you feel that the Lord is calling you to be apart of this ministry here is what you can do:

Logistics: Please contact me to partner with me logistically. There are only a couple that I still need.
Financial: Please visit this website if you feel that the Lord is calling you to be a financial partner, either in a one time gift or a recurring commitment.
Prayer: If you would like to partner with me in prayer you can subscribe to my prayer updates here. Or just contact me with your e-mail address.

Thank you and may the Lord bless you all through the work he is doing in and through my teammates (9 others) and I in Côte d'Ivoire!