Entry 1: Missionary?!

Hi!

My name is Abigail, and I am so grateful you are reading this! If you haven’t met me before, allow me to tell you a little bit about myself.

I currently live in Medina, Minnesota with my parents and 3 younger siblings. I’m a full-time PSEO student at Bethel University in my Junior year of High School. I’ve been a dancer for 15 years now at CREO Arts and Dance Conservatory in Minnetonka. I enjoy challenging myself, doing things like weightlifting, reading theological books, and getting into some deep discussions with friends. I absolutely love being outside, and I’ll never turn down an opportunity for an adventure.

Now that that’s out of the way, I can tell you more about the purpose of this blog.

2 months ago, I began to receive a pressing on my heart to become a missionary. I did not have an exact moment where God spoke to me, because God doesn’t communicate with me in that way. Instead, I experienced this calling in a different way. Part of it was through scripture. Mathew 28:19-20 says, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Also known as the great commission). I remember when I first read this verse, and it was one of the first moments when the spirit began to call to me. Another part of this calling came from experiences. Getting to serve on smaller Vision trips, sharing the gospel, and working for my church through childcare, worship band, and leading small groups. I experienced friendships built on love and scripture, and I experienced true joy found in Christ. Another part of my calling came from my role models. My dad, who challenged me and taught me how to live selflessly. My old HS pastor, who encouraged me to dive deeper into my faith and contextually study scripture. My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, particularly those older than me, who mentored and supported me. I also experienced this calling through the stories of other missionaries, whether I met them personally or read their stories in biographies. And finally (and most importantly) I feel called to become a missionary because of my intense desire to serve the Lord. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice when he died for us on the cross, and it is through him alone that I find fulfillment. I was created to worship and serve him, and to do so, is to fulfill my purpose as his daughter.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.” Now let me ask you this- If God asks you to trust him, will you do it? If God asks you to give up the treasures of this world, will you do it? If God asks you “Who will I send?” will you reply? In the words of Isaiah, “Here I am. Send me!” These are the questions I find myself pondering on, and it is the answer to these questions that will ultimately guide my future.

So, you may be asking, what am I doing to answer these questions? Well, for starters, I’m still learning and growing in my faith. I am experiencing what I like to call, “A refining fire” (as indicated by the title). I am learning patience, resilience, compassion, selflessness, and servitude by communing with God, studying his word, and giving him authority over my life. I am constantly examining the motives and desires of my heart, paying close attention to the Spirit’s conviction. I’m cutting out the things in my life that separate me from him, and searching for his glory in my every day. I’m learning how to preach, serve, and lead from my mentors and role models, and in the future, I hope to learn many other practical skills needed in missional ministry work. I’m also participating in smaller mission trips, some international, to learn important skills like fundraising and spreading the gospel effectively.

Now, I want to make something clear. If you walked up to me and said, “What is God’s plan for you?” I wouldn’t have an answer for you. Nor should I have one. I could tell you all of my dreams, goals, and aspirations. Everything I value and seek to find in this life. But it is all meaningless without him. I remember one day, one of my good friends was preaching and she asked something that stuck with me. “Is Jesus enough for you?”. That question brought me an intense amount of conviction, because I realized that I was putting my dreams above the LORD, glorifying and worshipping my future as one would worship an idol. I kept saying “Jesus and this. Jesus and that”, but really, it’s just Jesus. Only Jesus can fill me in the ways in which my heart longs for, and it is only when I came to realize this, that my life was truly transformed.

All this goes to say, I’m excited to announce that in the upcoming months, I will have a few missional opportunities, including my first international trip! With that, I am intensely focused on my heart posture, on preparation, and on strengthening my faith. In my upcoming blog posts, I will tell you more about these trips and how I am preparing for them, as well as how you can support me, if you so desire.

Thank you for reading, and may God bless you and keep you!