As a first year missionary, with Family Missions Company, I made a commitment that I would not drink alcohol or use tobacco products for my first year of missions. Seeing that I had just turned twenty one and had a history of drinking and smoking, these commitments seemed ridiculous and almost impossible to keep. However, I knew that God was calling me to be a missionary with FMC, so I reluctantly signed into these commitments when I joined FMC in September of 2012. At first I really hated these rules and thought they were pointless, but I soon came to realize that these rules would help me detach from the world, my disobedient personality and help me draw near to God. During the first three months of training, also know as Intake, I came to know my strengths and weaknesses, where I failed to love and how to grow in holiness. By the end of Intake my heart was set on fire for God and I was ready to go out and serve His children in Mexico.
All that was left to do was to say good bye to my friends and family during the Christmas break and I would be on my way. I was ready for the hardships that came with being in the mission field, but what I wasn´t ready for was being put back in the environment that I had left behind. Within the first night of being back home with my friends I broke my first year commitments to abstain from alcohol and cigarettes. The next day I was so upset with my actions and lack of self control. I thought, if I could not even keep these simple commitments how on earth was I going to be strong enough to be a missionary in a foreign country.
I continued to question if God was really calling me to be a missionary. Over the next few days I prayed that God would send me some kind of confirmation if what I was feeling was from Him. Shortly after I was emitted to the hospital because I was feeling very ill. I thought for sure this was the confirmation I had asked for. As I walked into the doors of the hospital thinking of how I will inform my mission team that I will not be joining them in Mexico, I got a text message from the office saying that I had received a large donation towards my mission. I was so moved by this donation because it was from a family that I greatly look up to. They are always striving for holiness and I knew that this donation was a very hard sacrifice for them. As if this wasn´t a big enough sign for me, I was still confused on what I should do considering that I was still sick in the hospital. Moments later the doctor comes in to inform me that I was sick with Hepatitis A. He said that I most likely picked it up from the food in Mexico but I would be immune to it so I could go back if I wanted to. He also told me that I would not be able to drink alcohol or smoke for at least nine months (which happens to be right when my first year commitments are up). At this point I was actually laughing out loud in the hospital bed. The doctor was probably thinking of sending me to the pshyc ward because he is telling me, what he thinks, is horrible news. We have a very humorous God! Not only did God answer all of my prayers, but I realized how much He cares for me and how important this mission is. He sent me beautiful and holy people that have encouraged me to say yes to the mission and he physically helped me with my weaknesses. We have a glorious and almighty God!
After a couple of weeks of recovering from Hep A, I was able to join my mission team in General Cepeda, Mexico! I have been here in General for about a month now and it has been truly amazing. God has blessed me with a wonderful team of missionaries that continue to call me on to holiness. We have been serving the people who come to our door asking for food, prayers, and other necessities. We go out to the different Ranchos inviting people to hear the Word of God. We visit the people that are home bound and attend different prayer groups that are set up by the native people. God has blessed me with great health to participate in all these ministries!
Jesus was not joking when He said in Matthew 7:7-8, ¨Ask, and you will receive, seek, and you will find, knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks will receive, and anyone who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to those who knock.¨ We have a very real God that does real things for real people in the real world! Believe and have the faith that God will bless you if your intention is to glorify His name.
