Even as I begin to write this, I am still in awe at how my life has led up to this very moment. If you had asked me a year ago where I would be today – this certainly would not be my first guess. It is a beautiful reminder that someone is watching over me and He has a plan for my life. So here we go. This is the story of a young woman struggling to find her place in the world and opening her heart up to God along the way.
I have lived in Boise my entire life, and I can’t imagine calling any other place home. I grew up in a house filled with more love and blessings than one could hope for in a lifetime. I had everything I needed. My parents and three siblings have shown me nothing but love and support from the day I was born and I cannot imagine where I would be today without them. I thank God each and every night for blessing me with such a devoted family.
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| In Tijuana |
I wish I could tell you that my faith has always been as strong as it is now, but unfortunately that is not the case. I was raised Catholic but I struggled with my faith and from time to time I lost sight of what really matters in life. During a particularly difficult time in my life this past winter, God answered my prayers for guidance and I ended up on my first mission trip to an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico. I like to consider that experience - Divine Intervention: Part One. During this trip I became closer to God then I have felt in a very long time. I saw some very difficult things, and I felt some very real emotions. No amount of preparation could have prepared me for learning the true meaning of the word poverty. During this emotional roller coaster of a week; I laughed, I cried, and I prayed, but most importantly I found myself and I found God again. I cannot express in words, the love and peace of mind that fills my heart to this day. I had to travel thousands of miles away, but in doing so I found home again. I am in the midst of a spiritual journey and I know God is watching over me every step of the way. It doesn’t get much more comforting than that.
Upon returning to Boise, I was determined to hold on to what I had seen and what I had experienced. I wasn’t ever going to lose sight of God’s good grace again. How could I after experiencing divine intervention of this magnitude? I was being called to serve God and to do his work. I found myself doing everything in my power to help others and to better myself through God. However I couldn’t deny that something was missing. I felt like I was being called to a higher purpose, but I just couldn’t figure out what that purpose was. It isn’t easy living in Boise, Idaho and wanting to save the world at the same time. Every night I prayed for God to send me my mission in life. I spent hours in the adoration chapel, praying and letting Him know that I was ready to do whatever He asked of me - no matter how difficult the task. Then one day I unexpectedly received a message from Heidemarie - “Alex tells me you might be interested in going to India with me this summer….” That was it. Divine Intervention: Part Two. This was my mission. This is what God was calling me to do. I was instantly filled with the overwhelming sense that He was smiling down upon me – and I couldn’t help but look up and smile back.
So here we go! The next step in my spiritual journey is about to begin. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit nervous. Actually I’m quite terrified. This is not going to be an easy journey and I know this trip will change me for the rest of my life – but I’m ready. I’m ready to do God’s will and allow him into my heart more than ever before. This is day one of the rest of my life.
