The count down begins...44 days

So this is my first post on this blogger thing. I've never been much of a journal writer, but I really want everyone to be apart of this mission experience with me, so I'll try my best to keep the blog running. Many people have been wondering how I got to this point in my life where I decided to flee the country for a year, so I'll give you a little run down of how I came to this point in my life. Actually, it will probably be more than a little run down because I'm procrastinating packing. If someone would have told me five years ago that I would be a missionary in Panama, I would have laughed. However, looking back on the 23 years of my life, God has been preparing me spiritually for this journey. As a child I was drawn to the idea of mission work. I remember getting a Christian magazine that promoted a mission organization. I would sit for hours reading all about youth and teens traveling all around the world to tell people about the hope found in Jesus. In high school I remember talking to friends who went to Mexico and Kenya on short term mission trips and wished I could have been apart of those experiences. I've always been drawn to other cultures and loved to see how they worshiped the same God that I worship. Spring of my senior year in high school I participated in a Christian service project at the Cup O' Joy Christian Coffeehouse in Green Bay, WI called "Project Friendship." My church provided a meal and entertainment for a few hundred people. It was the first time in my life that I remember sharing my faith with people other than my family and friends. It was then that I knew I wanted to do some sort of relational ministry. I ended up going to Concordia University in St. Paul, MN. It's amazing how God directed me to a school with a Christian outreach program before I even thought about a Christian outreach degree. Since I wanted to open up a Christian coffeehouse/music venue, I thought about getting a business degree, but something kept of drawing me to the outreach program. (I have a feeling that if I became a business major, I would have lost sight of the ministry) In January of 2004, I had my first overseas mission experience when I went to Thailand on a short term mission trip with Concordia Mission Society. Six months later I started a one year internship in Chicago at a congregation that was very focused on cross cultural outreach. During that year I went to Mexico, China, Alaska, and Indiana on service trips. Each experience was truly amazing. Last fall I was finishing my last year of college and started getting phone calls of some possible opportunities for jobs when I graduated. I thought finding a job would be easy. I wasn't planning on going overseas after graduation, but God had different plans for me. Spring started to roll around and all of the possible job offers fell through. Only one congregation sent in a request to Concordia for a Director of Christian Outreach and the job description did not match up with my gifts or passions. In April, my friend and I went to a Christian career fair. I was determined to get a job, but every job that I was interested in, I would have to raise at least half of my salary. Later that day, I was venting to a friend about having to raise my own funds. I was expecting some sympathy, but instead I got a fresh outlook on raising funds. I don't know why it took me so long to realize, but all I have to do is share the ministry with others. If this is what God wants me to do, He will work in the hearts of people. What a relief. This takes so much pressure off of me. A few weeks later, after much prayer, I applied to LCMS World Mission. I was very interested in a position in Puerto Rico where I would be the volunteer servant event coordinator and I would also start an EFL program to connect the church to the community. I was ecstatic beyond belief. It seemed as if my passions and gifts matched up perfectly. It seemed like this is where I was heading to in September. Then on June 10th I received a phone call telling me that Puerto Rico fell through. I was starting the two week missionary training the very next day. I took off of work, there was nothing else for me to do but eat a half gallon of ice cream and chocolate chip cookies. They told me that they were going to place me somewhere else in Latin America, but they were waiting to hear back from the fields. For three days I was in missionary training not knowing where I was going or what I was doing. I was angry, I was scared, and I was confused. However, on June 13th, I got word that I was going to Panama. What a blessing! I don't think I would have applied for this position originally, but once again this proves that God's plan is better than mine. During training I was surprised to meet six wonderful people that I will be working with in Panama. In a time that I was so confused and scared, God blessed me with six amazing people that gave me comfort. So basically that's my story with a lot of details missing.