When I first started working for AIM, I was a personal assistant. I was trying to figure out what was next. I was considering overseas missions somewhere. My boss was moving to start the Long Term Missions branch of AIM and wanted me to join, but I felt I had no part in that. He said I could either be sent, or be an enabler for many more to be sent. I didn’t understand- why would my staying enable more to go than me not being there, and why not be sent if I’m willing and able? So I started looking into locations of where I might go.
One day I was reading a missionary’s blog from Nigeria. He was saying that well organized short-term mission trips could benefit his church by making it more missions focused as opposed to numbers focused. Something shifted in my mind. It felt like the Spirit was imparting me with something that I couldn’t fully grasp yet, but I could feel His power and presence. I realized that I used to have the mindset that I, as a missionary, would go over and create disciples and followers of Christ, but it ended there. I didn’t fully understand that they have a call on their life, also. They too have to pick up their cross and follow Jesus. That might mean to serve the body or their local community, that might mean to be sent out to another nation. They have specific giftings and parts to play in the body. I got a vision of church bodies rising up in every nation, sending members out and expanding. Missionaries everywhere, from everywhere.
I knew I had to do something about this. I took it to my boss. He said he had the same vision 3 weeks earlier, which made him start Long Term Missions. ! He said that was confirmation for him. I told him that was confirmation for me now, too! I told him I was on board. They weren’t starting anything until the fall, and Short Term Missions needed more staff in Haiti for the summer, so I went.
Getting back, I just wanted to go right back out again. I love working overseas and living amongst the least of these. I figured they didn’t really need me for anything- it’s not like I had expertise they were counting on. Plus, my new position would have to be fully support raised, and I didn’t have much success with that in the past. I started contemplating the possibilities- college, get a ‘real’ job, live overseas, etc. The night before I had to decide, the Lord started to press on my His heart for the broken, the lost, the captives, the needy. Then the next day at the Long Term Missions meeting, they were talking of spreading the glory of the Lord across the whole earth, and I felt confirmation that this is what I was supposed to be doing. I went to my boss and said that whatever it means, if it was sitting in a cubicle from 9-5 every day doing detail work that I’m not that good at but no one else wants to do, I’m in. That’s when he told me of a position they needed to fill, and he said in the meeting he saw me doing it. We have 14 international locations with long term missionaries in them that we want to send people who want to be long term missionaries as interns to. I’ll be spending a month or two in each location doing set-up for the interns coming through, serving and encouraging, and getting their stories and needs. I’ll also be checking out other ministries that we possibly want to partner with.
This way, instead of me just meeting one need, I can find the need and find people to fill it. I want to create awareness to the need in this world and tell the stories of people who are doing something about it.
Right now, I’m trying to raise up a support team who will enable me to do this. This is one of the most stretching times, but it solidifies that this is what I’m supposed to be doing. I need people who will support me with prayer, monthly finances, and maintaining connected. I need help. I’m trying to raise 2,500$/mo that covers travel and living expenses. Please let me know if you can help and would like to be involved in any way.
