These are the lyrics of Hillsongs popular song, Oceans. This was my anthem as I packed up my life in 2017 to follow the Lord where he had made it clear he wanted me to be: teaching at a Christian school in Southfield, MI.

Southfield was my unknown as I’d lived my whole life up until that point in Grand Rapids, MI across the state from Southfield. As I made this move, many times, my feet, my strength, my wisdom, failed. I could not navigate this new without leaning on Jesus. It required every ounce of my faith, trusting that God knew what was best for me and had gone before me as he called me to be in Southfield. My faith deepened and grew as I learned to lean on Him in the unknown.

Matthew 25:23
“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.”

Jesus parable found in Matthew 25 expresses how I feel my journey to Kenya began, acting in faith with small steps of following Jesus just a couple of hours from home in Grand Rapids to home in Southfield. He has slowly stretched me to trust Him to take larger and larger steps of faith, the next of which began with a missions trip to Niamey, Niger in Christmas of 2018.

The trip having fallen in my lap, plane ticket already fully paid for, I knew God was on the move. As I pondered why He’d sent me on that trip for months afterward looking at the giraffes on my computer background, I realized later that time acted as months of prayers in my heart.

In May 2019, my church held their annual “Global Mission Festival”, a time of learning about the missionaries connected to our church, and a celebration of the work of the Lord across the globe.

As a guest speaker preached, the word “AFRICA” imprinted on the inside of my mind. I slapped a big “NO” right on top of it, assuring myself God wasn’t calling ME there. But when stirring only became stronger… I decided I’d at LEAST pray about it.

After a week of intense prayer and discussions with those close to me, I had three answers to three big questions:

1- Lord, why would you bring me so clearly to Southfield, just to take me to Africa? You needed a home church, you needed to learn how to teach, you needed preparing, and this is the place I ordained to send you from.

2- Why Africa? I felt teaching was what God was asking of me, and I was doing that very same thing in Southfield… so why there? Why not here? There are more people willing to teaching in Michigan than where I’m asking you to go. It’s as simple as you being obedient to WHERE I want you, not just WHAT I want you doing.

3-God, you gave me a heart for missions, but my heart is for supporting missionaries! Not for being one! Why would you give me a heart for supporting missions when you are asking me to step into that role myself? What greater way can you support missionaries than by teaching their children? This is what I want you to do.

Terrified having these three clear answers, my stubborn heart asked God, “If you really want me to do this, please make it abundantly clear. I need to know this is from you.”

That very night as I opened my devotions the first verse on the page came from Genesis 12:1, “The Lord said ‘Go, from you people and household to the land I will show to you.”

My last ditch effort to avoid this call was a final prayer of two words: “I’m scared.”

A kind and loving God, the verse that jumped out at me on the very next page came from Genesis 15:1, “Do not be afraid. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

I closed my prayer journal and devotion book in resolution. I didn’t know when, I didn’t know how, I didn’t know where, but in that moment I knew I’d be moving to Africa to teach the children of missionaries.

About nine months later I learned of RVA and began the process to move here, to Kijabe, Kenya where I now live, work, teach, mentor, and disciple, all for the glory of God.