I grew up in a Christian home, I became a Christian at the age of 8. I went to church every week, twice a week, like most Christian families do. When I was 14 I went on my first mission trip to Memphis, Tennessee and loved every minute of it and wanted to stay there working on homes for people who couldn't afford to or who were physically unable to do it themselves. The next year my youth group wasn't able to go to Tennessee and so we served in our community, which was even more fun than going to a different state. In 10th grade I went out my comfort zone and decided to go to Alaska, not with my youth group, but with another organization called Global Expeditions. It was great and I loved it! I came away from this trip wanting to make it my career. The next mission trip I went on was my senior year. I went to Galway City, IRELAND. This changed my entire perspective on missions and made me want to do international missions. I think I scared my parents, when I came home saying I found someone to live with! So, I went back the next fall, to work with the same church Stonebriar had previously worked with and came home wanting to do International Missions in Galway. I went back for the 3rd year and for what I thought would be the last for several years and came home with the decision that God was calling me to serve in Ireland at a church-plant doing children and youth ministry.
In between this three year span, I graduated from High School and attempted to go to college...several times and to multiple schools, and every time it got to the week of class starting, everything would fall apart and I wouldn't be able to start classes. This happened for 3 semesters. Every time God closed the door to school, He opened the door to Ireland pretty wide. The 4th semester God let me have my way and I started college as a Distance Learning Student through Moody Bible Institute. I was taking 4 (8-week) classes so I could receive my financial aid and working 4 jobs to pay what the financial aid wouldn't cover, I was THAT determined to go to school. In the end I failed two of my classes and passed, (if you want to call it that) my other 2 classes with a C and D. My mom called this "God getting personal". I lost my financial aid because of my grades and I guess I have to take this as my cue to look at what doors God has opened for me and college isn't one of them...for now. I decided, keyword I, that I would just move to Ireland and work in ministry there until I could go to school. Well, stubborn me thought I could do it without a degree and just use experience, but unfortunately that isn't how the adult world works, soo....
During this journey of trying to move to Ireland, God took me to the Philippines first (then Kenya and Ireland a couple more times lol)! I lived there for 9 months. I was there with World Venture, serving in a ministry training program called Journey Corps. I learned a lot, had SO much fun, and made some life long friends! I also came home very introverted, depressed, I had unknowingly developed anxiety that would come at the most random times (like an elephant sitting on my chest in church, so I would leave and go sit at Starbucks), and not to mention the reverse culture shock that I am pretty sure is worse than actual culture shock. Shortly after I got back I started attending a new church and that allowed me to breathe for what felt like the first time since I got back. I didn't have anyone asking me the obligatory questions, but not really wanting to sit and hear the answer to them, or try to serve in a room where no one knew me any more and dealing with some of my favorite staff being gone and everything changing sucked. I could just sit and be taught the word of God, which I didn't really get in the Philippines, because as it should be everything was in a language; that I couldn't figure out no matter how hard I tried. Coming to The Village Church was life changing. I spent a year living on my parents couch-literally- and working in a preschool free time and nannying part time. I then got a job as a camp counselor and retreat guide at Camp Eagle the BEST camp you could ever work for or attend. Being in that community helped me get over some anger and bitterness that I had carried for years. Now, I'm back in Dallas living the best life I can with a great job and sweet family. Still living the single life, but I am okay with that...because I'm genuinely happy.
In between this three year span, I graduated from High School and attempted to go to college...several times and to multiple schools, and every time it got to the week of class starting, everything would fall apart and I wouldn't be able to start classes. This happened for 3 semesters. Every time God closed the door to school, He opened the door to Ireland pretty wide. The 4th semester God let me have my way and I started college as a Distance Learning Student through Moody Bible Institute. I was taking 4 (8-week) classes so I could receive my financial aid and working 4 jobs to pay what the financial aid wouldn't cover, I was THAT determined to go to school. In the end I failed two of my classes and passed, (if you want to call it that) my other 2 classes with a C and D. My mom called this "God getting personal". I lost my financial aid because of my grades and I guess I have to take this as my cue to look at what doors God has opened for me and college isn't one of them...for now. I decided, keyword I, that I would just move to Ireland and work in ministry there until I could go to school. Well, stubborn me thought I could do it without a degree and just use experience, but unfortunately that isn't how the adult world works, soo....
During this journey of trying to move to Ireland, God took me to the Philippines first (then Kenya and Ireland a couple more times lol)! I lived there for 9 months. I was there with World Venture, serving in a ministry training program called Journey Corps. I learned a lot, had SO much fun, and made some life long friends! I also came home very introverted, depressed, I had unknowingly developed anxiety that would come at the most random times (like an elephant sitting on my chest in church, so I would leave and go sit at Starbucks), and not to mention the reverse culture shock that I am pretty sure is worse than actual culture shock. Shortly after I got back I started attending a new church and that allowed me to breathe for what felt like the first time since I got back. I didn't have anyone asking me the obligatory questions, but not really wanting to sit and hear the answer to them, or try to serve in a room where no one knew me any more and dealing with some of my favorite staff being gone and everything changing sucked. I could just sit and be taught the word of God, which I didn't really get in the Philippines, because as it should be everything was in a language; that I couldn't figure out no matter how hard I tried. Coming to The Village Church was life changing. I spent a year living on my parents couch-literally- and working in a preschool free time and nannying part time. I then got a job as a camp counselor and retreat guide at Camp Eagle the BEST camp you could ever work for or attend. Being in that community helped me get over some anger and bitterness that I had carried for years. Now, I'm back in Dallas living the best life I can with a great job and sweet family. Still living the single life, but I am okay with that...because I'm genuinely happy.
Thank you very much for your
prayers
Sarah
