God called me to missions in 2002. I was 12. Obviously, it was going to be a minute before I went anywhere long-term. I didn't think it would be more than twenty years. But God isn't in a hurry. 
 

I participated in my first short-term mission trip, to Mexico, in 2006. It changed my life. Since then I've been on short-term trips to Honduras, Ukraine, China, India, Ethiopia, and Uganda. Each short trip played a significant role in clarifying and solidifying my call. 
 

In 2012, I graduated from Bible College with a Bachelors in Education and Religion. I taught Kindergarten for three years. During that time I pursued missions. I even applied for long-term work with a missions agency, but God redirected and sent me back to school. 

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I earned a Masters of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I graduated in August 2021. I am currently associate licensed as a mental health counselor in Kentucky and I'm pursuing independent licensure. (It's a multi-year process, but I'm shooting for September 2023 as the finish line on full licensure.)

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In January 2022, I had just returned from two weeks in Uganda. The trip was amazing - so good and so hard. I wondered again at God's timing. Following God's will and His leading is not easy, but this is one of those times when things just started to fall into place. The missions coordinator at my church encouraged me that it was time to apply with Nazarene Missions. There are several steps in the process. It can be confusing, so I'll try to be clear. 

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First, in February I applied to Nazarene Missions by filling out an application and providing references. Then we went through a series of interviews. I interviewed with my local pastor and local missions coordinator. They recommended me to our local church board. I interviewed with the church board and they voted to recommend me for a missions training and orientation event called Explore. 

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Through Explore, I learned about how Nazarene Missions operates, what the blessings and challenges of missions are, and got to know other mission candidates and Nazarene Missions leadership. Explore included some assessment and evaluation along with the learning aspects. All of it was geared toward encouraging me in the pursuit of God's call on my life. To me, it felt like the process was designed to say, "We recognize your call and we want to encourage you in it. Let's see if we should pursue that together."

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After Explore, I had another interview with Missions Leadership. After the event, the team presented the candidate profiles to Nazarene Headquarters leadership. In mid-November, I received approval to continue the process as a candidate. 

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This is where we are now! 

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What's next? 

Nazarene Missions is looking for a placement. That means that HQ is asking the ministry field leadership what their needs are. HQ is aware of my skills and passions, they know which countries I would absolutely love to serve in. When they find a place where the ministry field's needs and my abilities and desires overlap, then they will offer me a position. I can accept that position or request that they keep looking. 

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So we will see where and how God leads.