Last year I ventured out on a missions trip to New Orleans to help with relief from Hurricane Katrina.  I remember when our church launched the “GO Campaign,” at our church.  I knew that I wanted to be a part of this movement that was taking place.  With all the different places to choose from after prayer, my friend and I decided to sign up for one of the New Orleans teams that were going.  As the days anticpated the arrival of the trip I could not help and wonder how God was going to use us and how we were going to be changed as we came back to Orange County, California.

Those 5 days spent in New Orleans changed my whole perception of servanthood and missions.  To my left of my desk is a group picture of my team.  All 22 of us.  As I look at that picture I am reminded of the effort each of us put in to be used.  From the first project of doing yard work for a house that looked like it belonged in the forest, to having conversations with the homeless down in Jackson square and meeting Mary who shared with us her story of the days of Hurricane Katrina…my heart, soul and mind was being transformed for a deeper understanding of what it means to be the hands and feet of Christ.

I spent days writing in my journal coming back from that trip asking God what was next.  My heart was overwhelmed with emotion and longing to do more.  Mission trips have there way of doing that to us, don’t they?  I got the opportunity to share with numerous people my experience and desire to do more for the Kingdom of God.

It was a couple of months before I left for New Orleans I went to a good-bye gathering for my friend Erin who was headed off to be a missionary in Africa.  As we sat in chairs watching videos of the people of Africa something began to stir in my heart.  I wanted to go one day.  I never thought in a million years I would have a desire to go to Africa.  Not that I was against other countries, I just thought that the United States was where I wanted to serve.  I love how God slowly and patiently changes our desires when we allow him.

Earlier this year they were asking for applications for those who wanted to go on a missions trip to South Africa.  This was the first time my church was sending people on this trip.  When I had heard about it I saw that I had missed the deadline to turn my application in.  After realizing this I said, “Lord next year when the opportunity arises I want to be the first to fill out the application and turn it in.”  A couple of months passed and then to my suprise during announcments one Sunday morning they mentioned that they were sending a second team to Africa for the winter.  I knew immediately God was calling me to turn in my application.  I just knew that I knew that I knew.  So, I printed out the application online and turned it in.  Following the week of turning in my application I got a call for my interview.  On the day of my interview I asked that God would be my words and that whatever happends would be his will…but deep down inside I was screaming, “Please let me know…I want to go…I want to go.”  After my meeting they said they would get back to me in the next couple of weeks.

The next couple of weeks I anticipated weather I was going to get the call that I had got accepted or that they were sorry but to try out for next year.  I was telling everyone I knew how I truly wanted to go and knew that somehow, someway God was going to put it on the leaders hearts to choose me out of the 20 people they were going to take.  Well, on Thursday, July 31st I got a call from one of the ladies who interviewed me and she said, “Tiffany how would you like to go to South Africa?”  With completely excitment in my voice I said, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”  That day I could not stop telling everyone that I knew…co-workers, friends and family.  Out of 60 people who applied to go on this trip I was one of the 20 that they had picked.  I couldn’t believe it.

Last Sunday we had our first orientation where I met my team and the founder of the organization that our church partners with in South Africa.  We got to learn about the culture, what to expect and the next few months of preparing for our departure in Decemeber.

The orangization that we will be working with is Bridges of Hope.  They have built a retreat center for children who are orphans.  Since most of these kids do no have family we will be having Christmas with them at the center.  We were told that it is going to be like summer camp.  And since December/January in South Africa is summer I know that it is going to be a time of a lot of outdoor activties.

Last night I had a conversation with a woman I met a few weeks ago.  She works for Campus Crusade for Christ in Florida.  I was sharing with her how I am so excited to learn about the culture and see how others truly live life.  I desire to see the joy that these people have even in the midst of horrific circumstances with AIDS being a huge epidemic in that area and tons of children being orphaned daily due to AIDS.  She shared with me the joy of the experience I will have since she herself has been to South Africa.  As we ended our conversation with prayer I wrote in my journal and asked God to walk with me in this journey, through fundraising my money, getting to know my teammates, learning about this culture and being open to however He desires to use me.

It is amazing how I never thought I would go to South Africa and here I am getting ready for a trip that is going to change me in more ways than I can imagine.  I love how God changes our hearts for His desires when we allow Him to.  He is so good at that