I grew up in a Christian home with friends and family that have encouraged and supported me through everything that I have done. I am very blessed to have the family that I do.
Even though I grew up in a Christian home and learned that salvation came through Jesus Christ, I never really understood or took it seriously. In my early Christian years I became very GREEDY in my faith. I only went to God on my terms and on my conditions. sadly that was only when I wanted something. All of that changed when I lost my Papa. He was my hero, and my rock. He was the person that I wanted my life to mirror.
My Papa was by far the most inspirational person in my life. He was a true representation of what it means to show Christ’s love, forgiveness, and mercy. Ironically after his death I took the exact opposite role of my Papa. My faith that was once greedy now became non existent. I turned against God and all of my beliefs, and became depressed. It was then when I was at my weakest and lowest point that I was able to find Christ again. Getting into the so called “right crowd” is what helped pull me through that dark time in my life. I surrounded myself with people in my youth group. those friendships are stronger then ever and I don’t know what I would do without these friends in my life. :]
When I got to the point in my walk with God where I wanted nothing but to follow Christ and to be his hands and feet, everything that I thought I wanted in life started to change. I left my parents church when I was 13 and started to attend CrossRoads Church. A choice that seemed small and insignificant in the beginning but it was a choice that started a chain reaction of different events that have lead me to this point in life.
I never would have dreamed that I would want to go to another country to spend time with children and talk about Jesus of all things. As sad as that might sound but that is not where I saw my life heading. The only thing I wanted to do with Africa was to see a wild lion! definitely NOT share with strangers the love and salvation through Jesus Christ.
but like always God had something bigger and better planned for me. My church started to get involved with Swaziland. It just started by sending a group to Swazi and then turned into sponsoring hundreds of children in the town of Mhlosheni Swaziland. That was the first time i ever saw a church reach out not just locally but globally. That is what got my thought process started. i started thinking what would happen if I didn’t just go to Africa to see a lion, but if i went for a reason that was bigger then myself. needless to say it was not long after that I discovered my passion for Africa had grown from lions to wanting to touch the lives of individuals. Each picture that I saw from my churches trip hit me on a level that only God can hit. My heart started to break for the orphans and all i could think about was “how can i get there? what can i do?”
Without my youth pastor and best friends understanding my desire and calling towards Africa, I would have given up. It is the people that God has placed in my life that have helped encourage me to put the questions of “how” and “what can I do” into action! James and Danielle, I don’t think that you will ever understand how much it meant and how much I needed your words of encouragement when all I wanted to do was cave and give in because it got too hard. It was those few but often words of encouragement that have gotten me to this point today!
I know that all of my life experiences, the good and the bad have helped to prepare my heart towards missions and to Africa to be specific. i love being with children and being able to share with them the unconditional love that can only come from our heavenly father! I cannot wait to see how God will be transforming our lives through this experience that he has been preparing us for!
Girl I love you so much. You have come a long way! I am so proud of you! I can’t wait to see how God is going to use you in swaziland! He has big plans for you! Keep serving and following him. I love you!
Beth, I am SO excited for this time in your life. God’s got bigger plans for your life then you ever had – embrace them! I love you and you are in my prayers.
Hi Beth, how are things going? We are excited and waiting to hear what kind of adventures God has in store for you? Also, many questions…How many children do you care for and where do you sleep? Have you seen any lions? We look forward in hearing from you. Gods blessings. xxoo Uncle Tim and Aunt Nancy 🙂
Hi Bethany!
I hope you are doing well and enjoying your trip! I just wanted you to know I’m thinking of you and you’re in my prayers! Have a great trip!
Cara