Waiting...waiting....

“Perfect. I have some time before class to take a power nap in the library,” I thought as I briskly walked from the dining hall towards the library one afternoon last November in Virginia. Little did I know that I was about to have an incredibly significant conversation.

Let’s just say I did not get a nap that day, but I sure did get an adrenaline rush. As I rounded a corner, I saw a random booth and a big sign that said “Africa.” How could that NOT catch my eye? I’ve been dreaming of spending time in Africa for MONTHS now. I almost kept going past the booth, but something told me to stop. I stopped in my tracks and chatted with Mr. Steve Hill, who told me he was a representative with Africa Inland Mission (AIM) and gave me some materials to look at. As we kept talking, I realized this was a God-thing…no other way to describe it. Mr. Hill and I discovered: his family is living in Lancaster, PA (which is where I’m from.) Not only that, but they were currently living/working at the SAME camp where I worked for a week last summer. Not only THAT, but we discovered his family recently began attending the church where I spent about 11 years of my life.

I literally had to blink back tears, because I could just see God’s hands in this conversation (it’s hard to explain.) I remember Mr. Hill saying, “I don’t know what God is doing! I’m almost afraid to keep talking to you,” as we kept discovering those neat things!

To make a very long story short, I kept in touch with Mr. Hill’s family and spent the afternoon visiting them about 2 months later when I was in PA for Christmas break. We talked about AIM, and I drove away encouraged and even more excited about the possibility of Africa.

Since then, I’ve been emailing Kate, an awesome girl from D.C. She and I are BOTH applying for AIM’s media team. Mr. Hill gave her my email address, and we’ve had fun getting to know each other via email. Last weekend, we were (oddly enough) both in Lancaster so we met in person. We instantly hit it off (we talked non-stop for 3 hours in Panera!) We’re both hoping/praying that we will both end up in Africa together!

There’s just something about AIM’s ministry in Africa that really grabbed my attention and my heart. Their aim is to glorify God….and they send missionaries over there to teach the Africans. That way, when the missionary has to leave, the Africans are equipped to carry on the job (whether it’s a pastor, doctor, etc.) I sent in my 10 page application Feb. 14 and the following week I interviewed with Mr. Hill when he was at LU. Now is the hard part…..waiting. I’ve never been good at waiting : ) I will hopefully find out a “yes” or “no” from AIM in two days. I’m nervous, anxious, and excited all at the same time.
I am positive the Lord is leading me to Africa, but I’m waiting on the exact organization and timing. I’m just so grateful He’s writing the next chapter of my story….