Today we made the big announcement- we are going to travel to a foreign country (Paraguay) to become missionaries. Wow! I have been waiting for this day for a long time. Ever since I can remember I have dreamed of this moment. I have worked, prepared, prayed, and waited for the desires I believe God has put into my heart to become reality. It has been a long process, but well worth the time and effort.
Several years ago, people started talking to Stephen and I about one day moving to Paraguay. This was before I even mentioned out loud that I was interested in ministering in that particular country. I guess people could just see how happy working in missions made me. I prayed for years for God to send me a like-minded partner that I could share my life with…and he did that in Stephen. Last year, the general overseer of Paraguay, Bishop David Orozco sent us a formal invitation to come to Paraguay and work as missionaries. And so the process began! Our first order of business was to talk the current missionaries in Paraguay, Dan and Gwen Miller and get their blessings. They were very excited when we told them our hopes and immediately supported us in our vision as they always do. Next, we had to tell our families. My mother-in-law cried when we told her our plans. I know that she supports us and believes in our ministry but it is also very difficult for her to see her only son move so far away.
Telling my parents was a bit different. At the time my father was in the final stages of battling cancer and our lives were a whirlwind of doctor appointments and all the not-fun things the disease involves. However, I wanted my father to know the things I was putting into motion for my life. He wasn’t surprised because missions has been a part of my life for a long time. He smiled the way he did and told me to “go for it.” After he died, my mother had a more difficult time adjusting to how my life was transitioning. I understand that after losing her husband seeing her daughter move to a different hemisphere was not a thought she wanted to entertain. It took her a while to truly support our decision, but now she is standing firmly behind us. I am grateful for this because I know how much our lives as a family have changed recently. The last thing people want when bad change happens is even more change…but this is different. I believe this move and this ministry is blessed. This change is something happy.
After we told our families, Stephen and I set up several meetings with the leadership of the Church of God of Prophecy within the United States and at the international offices in Cleveland, TN. First, we met with our local pastor, Bishop Benjamin Duncan and his wife Tammy from Ward Ave. Church of God of Prophecy and told them of our news. They were estatic and very enthusiastic about our new ministry. I cannot tell you how helpful these two people have been throughout this entire process. Pastor Ben and Tammy have prayed with us and counseled us not only in the spiritual sense, but have also helped us navigate the structure of our church so that everything is in place to give our ministry the best chance for success.
After meeting with the Pastor Duncan, we made an appointment to speak with our state overseer, Bishop Jeffrey Davis of the North Carolina Church of God of Prophecy. He immediately gave us his endorsement and also was a great help in connecting us with the right people at the COGOP Global Missions Office. Through a series of emails with global missions director Cathy Payne, Stephen and I have now also received the endorsement of General Presbyter, Bishop Gabriel Vidal. We have also been approved to name and publicize our ministry as Mission 403.
I am truly blessed in that my church, my friends, and my family are all behind Stephen and I as we take this new step in our lives. Everything is in order and all the steps to make our ministry successful and legitimate have been taken. We are ready for this new chapter. As we publicly declare our intentions for ministry, we ask for your prayers and support to make Mission 403 a reality. We cannot do this alone. We need all of you. God has done great things and I cannot wait to see what happens next.