a few months ago,
we began the search for a Covergirl.
The fall I turned 17 was very special for me. Not only did I get my unrestricted driver’s license, I was also beginning to look at colleges. As part of that, I had to start considering future careers. That was where my adventure began.
I had felt a calling to mission work since I was 14 years old. However, I had no idea what I would do as a missionary, apart from sharing Christ. I thought about pastoring or teaching, but eventually I began contemplating nursing. I have two cousins who are medical missionaries and they have shared how that has helped and shaped their ministry. I also knew how medical training could open many doors in the world. I just didn’t know where to start.
My childhood church has had a long relationship with a sister church in Merotte, Haiti, for over 10 years. They send a mission team down every year to do VBS with school kids and medical clinics for the community. My youth pastor, after hearing about the path I felt God leading me on, suggested I should go. I was excited, anxious, and fearful all at once.
This would be a great opportunity for me to see what nurses do on the mission field. I would be able to learn to take vitals and assist patients as well as shadow several medical professionals. But the trip would require a lot of hard work to earn the money needed. It also would mean I was going without my family. I had been on a mission trip before in 9th grade, but my dad had gone with me then. This was probably the aspect I was most afraid of. What if I got sick? What if my money was stolen or I got lost? I felt God’s call to go. I had a passion to serve. But I was so fearful of the unknown. Sure, I’d traveled before, even overseas, but never by myself to a foreign country.
The deadline for registrations was coming up fast. Through all of my shifting emotions, I can remember praying for peace. I asked for the Lord to send peace upon my fears if He wanted me to go. I asked for a peace to surpass all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
As I looked into gathering support, I started to feel it. I had a peace come over my fears for finances for the trip. It was slow at first, but soon grew to cover my fears in all areas of the mission trip. I became confident in what the Lord was calling me to. Sure, my fear was still there, but, as I prepared and eventually went to Haiti, faith gently took its place in my heart. There were many adventures in my 10 days there, but the Lord was with me through them all.
This experience reminds me just how great our God is. He gave me the strength to follow Him bravely, a lesson I have continued to learn in the two years since I went to Haiti. I think that was the biggest point of my going there. I was able to learn about nursing while serving many people there. I also made friends, both Haitian and American.
Ultimately, I realized that nursing was not my passion, but mission work certainly was. And, most importantly, I learned about the faithful and mighty God we serve. Psalm 27:1 says “The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?” And this was truly real for me when I traveled to Haiti. I may not always know how, when, or where God is taking me, but I know that my fear has no place in those plans.
This would be a great opportunity for me to see what nurses do on the mission field. I would be able to learn to take vitals and assist patients as well as shadow several medical professionals. But the trip would require a lot of hard work to earn the money needed. It also would mean I was going without my family. I had been on a mission trip before in 9th grade, but my dad had gone with me then. This was probably the aspect I was most afraid of. What if I got sick? What if my money was stolen or I got lost? I felt God’s call to go. I had a passion to serve. But I was so fearful of the unknown. Sure, I’d traveled before, even overseas, but never by myself to a foreign country.
The deadline for registrations was coming up fast. Through all of my shifting emotions, I can remember praying for peace. I asked for the Lord to send peace upon my fears if He wanted me to go. I asked for a peace to surpass all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
As I looked into gathering support, I started to feel it. I had a peace come over my fears for finances for the trip. It was slow at first, but soon grew to cover my fears in all areas of the mission trip. I became confident in what the Lord was calling me to. Sure, my fear was still there, but, as I prepared and eventually went to Haiti, faith gently took its place in my heart. There were many adventures in my 10 days there, but the Lord was with me through them all.
This experience reminds me just how great our God is. He gave me the strength to follow Him bravely, a lesson I have continued to learn in the two years since I went to Haiti. I think that was the biggest point of my going there. I was able to learn about nursing while serving many people there. I also made friends, both Haitian and American.
Ultimately, I realized that nursing was not my passion, but mission work certainly was. And, most importantly, I learned about the faithful and mighty God we serve. Psalm 27:1 says “The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?” And this was truly real for me when I traveled to Haiti. I may not always know how, when, or where God is taking me, but I know that my fear has no place in those plans.
Lord was with me through them all.
This experience reminds me just how great our God is. He gave me the strength to follow Him bravely, a lesson I have continued to learn in the two years since I went to Haiti. I think that was the biggest point of my going there. I was able to learn about nursing while serving many people there. I also made friends, both Haitian and American.
Ultimately, I realized that nursing was not my passion, but mission work certainly was. And, most importantly, I learned about the faithful and mighty God we serve. Psalm 27:1 says “The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?” And this was truly real for me when I traveled to Haiti. I may not always know how, when, or where God is taking me, but I know that my fear has no place in those plans.
This is the entry that stood out to us.
This? Is Claudia.
I had felt a calling to mission work since I was 14 years old
19