WANDERING HANDSTANDS

When I became a Christian my junior year of college I found myself in a rut. I was already knee deep into a major (engineering) that I had solely picked because everyone said I'd be good at it and I would make quite a bit of money. I didn't like it, I just like the pride it brought me. After I gave my life to Christ, I I finally admitted the scary truth to myself that I made a mistake and felt gutted that I had wasted so much time and energy on a career path that God did not call me to. I went to a seminar on campus and listened to a couple who helped build orphanages in Africa speak about their journey of pursuing a servant life over a self-serving life. That night I was given a vision of an engineering career with a bigger purpose. This entire time I had been studying how to build the world, and that night God gave me a glimpse of how I could help build the Kingdom. I’m so grateful to have received that vision at a time when I needed it the most and every day since then has been a reminder of how awesome God is for continuing to work through my choices (even the misguided ones). ​I am so excited to have the opportunity to use the technical skills and engineering knowledge I have gained in my years at Texas A&M and Pape-Dawson to serve. We did a bible study at FPCSA a few years ago on the Book of James and it spoke so deeply about the call to action that our faith and trust in God produces. I see it as a great privilege to have this opportunity to share knowledge and serve where God is sending me in response to the overflowing grace and mercy He has shown me my whole life.​

When I graduated college, I was a very new Christian and was on fire for the Lord. I knew one day I would pursue global missions and although God was calling me to San Antonio, I was so excited to have graduated college and was ready to take on the world, so much so, that I took it into my own hands right then and there to figure out what global missions agency I wanted to work for. I started googling and researching and found EMI. Straight off the bat I noticed that EMI was established and had a vast portfolio of projects. I noticed how diversity was celebrated within the teams and within the communities of EMI. After combing through the website it was evident that God is doing some amazing work through EMI and it was cool to see how people are able to express their passion and glorify God through these projects. I went to apply for an internship and got to the deep essay questions before I realized, “Oh, there’s a lot more to this than a cool trip and job” and that maybe I’m not quite ready for this. I look back on that now and laugh (just as I’m sure God was too) because I 100% was not ready. From that initial introduction to EMI in 2015, there has not been a day in the last 7 years that I did not think about EMI and think about who and how God calls us to serve. During a lovely long covid-quarantine over Christmas (sorry Mom and Dad!) I had a lot of time to think, reflect on the past year, and prepare for the new year (2022) and I heard God say that it’s time to go. Time to go?! I had really been working on building community and planting roots in San Antonio the last few years, so it took a good couple of weeks of questioning if I heard that right before diving in. Over the course of the next few weeks there were so many things that God used to encourage me from the addition of a brilliant new friend in our small group (who works for a non-profit in Rwanda!) to the incomparable and overwhelming peace I received during this whole journey, God has had me in His hand this whole time.

No...BUT! I am an avid traveler and have spent multiple months abroad exploring more than 15 countries. I understand this will be entirely different but I am excited for the challenge and journey of learning how to navigate a new country and culture!

Duh...😜