When I began making plans for after my college graduation I knew I wanted to set aside some time for missions. I figured it would be relatively easy. I’m in a one-bedroom apartment, so no roommates to worry about. I didn’t have any job plans for after graduation and wanted a break between my bouts of school. I felt God was calling me to go, wherever he wanted me, at this time in my life.
Remember the part where I thought it would be easy? If you laughed, good call. I started out at the International Mission Board, applying for a journeyman position. They accepted my application, but things kept happening. Paperwork issues, miscommunication… I realized I probably wasn’t going anywhere in 2010 with IMB, so, with a “Call me if you have something,” I moved on to the North America Mission Board.
I ended up going to the student division of NAMB. We were working to find somewhere for the fall of 2010, so I thought I had some time in Louisiana after I graduated.
I’d been pushing for Alaska from the beginning. I knew, from experience out in West Texas, remote places in North America have trouble getting the people and resources needed. I wanted to fill that need, to go where no one else wanted to.
Around the end of February I got a call from NAMB. It wasn’t anything specific, just talking about my file some more and questions about what I wanted. I tried to give a more in-depth explanation about what I thought God was calling me to do. I heard a pause on the other end of the phone, and then my NAMB coordinator hesitantly said, “Well, I do have this one place… It’s above the Arctic Circle.” Needless to say, I was a little shocked. I prayed about it, and eventually said yes to the town of Kiana, Alaska for at least a summer position.
It seemed wrapped up. My regional coordinator had said I was good to go. The Alaskan Baptist Convention said I was good to go, and then… I wasn’t good to go. There was some miscommunication, paperwork problems, and it turned out two other people had been assigned to Kiana as well. As I was the latecomer, I had to start looking for something else. But, again, I knew God would put me where I needed to be. If it wasn’t Kiana, then so be it. It looked like, once again, I wasn’t going anywhere ‘til the fall. I made my plans and continued on with my life.
Yes, if you started chuckling at the words “my plans,” you were once again right. Have a cookie.
I was at work, a Monday at the end of March, when my cell phone began ringing. It was my regional coordinator’s number. After we said our hellos, she told me there had been a new development with Kiana. Those people that were assigned? They had some problems they needed to work out, so they couldn’t go. My coordinator wanted to know if I was still interested.
To say I was shocked just doesn’t cut it. I was floored. I was stunned. If I said yes to this, it meant I would be leaving in two months. Get rid of my apartment, sell my car (because from this point on, I’d be on assignment for another few years, even if Kiana was only for the summer), and leave my family.
This time took more prayer than the first. I’ll be honest – I was scared. This was the next portion of my life, and that step from this point to the next? Watch it, it’s a doozy.
But I truly felt this was where God wanted me to be. To have the door close in my face like it had, and then open like this, was an answer to prayers (more than my own).
So I said yes.
Now, I’m going to Kiana, to the Arctic Circle, but more importantly I’m going to a group of people I can’t wait to meet, serve and learn from. I have a feeling I’ll be learning quite a bit.
That’s the how this story started, and I promise I’ll be telling more as preparations and any new discoveries are made. Please keep me in your prayers as God leads me in this new direction.
-Sarah
