At first it was just a whisper. I was reading a book about showing the love of Christ to others, and God whispered, “Missions.” Then I read a book about boldly pursuing great things for God, and God urged, “Missions.” Then I read a book about a girl who moved to Africa to live among the people and share Jesus with them, and God declared, “Kristina, it’s time to move to Africa.”
Missions has nearly always been my heart’s desire. When I was in fourth grade, I came home from summer camp and told my parents that God wanted me to be a missionary. Years passed, and that desire remained, but the timing never seemed to be right. There were times when I really thought God might be leading in that direction, but then doors closed. So I continued to journey one step at a time, trusting that God was using me exactly as He saw fit and perhaps using each step to prepare me for something else.
Looking back, I can clearly see His hand at work. He has been growing me in my relationship with Him, in my development as an English teacher, and in my burden for the lost. He was equipping me with everything that I would need to take this next step.
So what is the next step? I’m not moving to Africa tomorrow, but this coming summer, I will be taking a survey trip to Ivory Coast, where I believe the Lord is leading me to serve Him. At this point, I’m not sure what exactly that will look like, but my desire is to serve alongside Bob and Becky Mach and begin an English-teaching program. Through this program, I hope to reach people who may not otherwise be open to hearing the gospel.
Please begin praying with me about this trip. First, pray for the money needed to purchase plane tickets, immunizations, and a visa. Second, pray that I will be able to get everything that I need to make this trip. Currently, the Ivorian government has suspended issuing visas because of COVID-19, so obviously that has to change in the near future in order for me to take this trip. Finally, pray that as I take this trip God will make His plan clear to me, and that I will trust and obey whatever it is that He leads me to do.
I am so excited to see what God has in store for me, and I want to thank you in advance for your prayers and support!
“I pray that the Lord might crown this year with His goodness and in the coming one give you a hallowed dare-devil spirit in lifting the biting sword of Truth, consuming you with a passion that is called by the cultured citizen of Christendom ‘fanaticism,’ but known to God as that saintly madness that led His Son through bloody sweat and hot tears to agony on a rude Cross—and Glory!” ― Jim Elliot
P.S. As I was reading through the journals of Jim Eliot, I realized we had something very important in common–he wore Keds.” 🙂
papyrus and ink 