Mark 10:45

TWO MORE WEEKS! In exactly 13 days from now, I will  board the flight to Mexico City! I cannot believe it is so close. The past few months have been incredibly: stressful, exciting, emotional, life changing, powerful, happy, speedy, sad, joyous, etc. You get the picture!
Since I last posted, I've graduated from Longwood University with a BS in Liberal Studies and a double minor in Spanish and International Studies. I've moved out of my apartment and back home in Richmond. I've seen my boyfriend, Mark, graduate from VCU and helped him move into his new apartment in Athens, NY. I've been to California on vacation to visit family. I've had multiple dreams about life in Mexico. I've reminisced about college and have even been blessed enough to visit friends already. Let's just say I've been on quite the emotional roller coaster...
And now I have to pack my bags and move to Mexico?! You've gotta be crazy!

But...the Lord does some pretty incredible things to push us into service for Him. Mark 10:45 says that not EVEN the Son of man came to be serveD, but TO SERVE. We, as people, are supposed to serve. Daily. Yes, daily. How do each of us go about that, though? In many crazy, awesome, different ways.

My new way of serving is going to be moving to Mexico. When I attended Urbana Missions Conference in 2009, I knew I wanted to commit to missions in some aspect of my life, but I didn't necessarily know what that was. As you may know, Urbana09 led me to travel to Kampala, Uganda for a short term mission trip. I returned the following year and led an incredible team. This is when I knew I was being called to fulfill my life as a missionary in some way. Many people stop me right here and say, “But Amanda, people like you are needed right here in the U.S. too!” My response is generally something like, “That is why you are staying here. You are called to fulfill that role. God asked me to go. Maybe He is asking you to stay right where you are and serve. Maybe He is asking that you go to grad school, to transfer schools, to quit your job, to be teacher, to take a "pointless" internship, to start at an entry-level job that seems lame, to get to know the person in the cubicle next to you...to serve." Help is needed everywhere, and I totally understand that, but I have this burning passion in my heart to travel to serve, but that isn't for everyone!

Neither here nor there is necessarily ‘better,’ it’s just different plans that the Lord has for us. When I attended the Urbana Conference again last December, I knew I was in for it. “It” was a mystery, but I was ready. I discovered LAM and immediately knew that this is what God has asked of me all along. I picked up my two minors (Spanish and International Studies) for no ‘real’ reason…until now. It all makes sense! Now is the time for me to GO. Now is the time for me to serve in Mexico City!

I am asking that you continually pray for me. Specifically, pray for my emotions! You all know that I like change, but I do NOT like goodbyes. Two months is quite awhile, and it'll be interesting to see how I handle it! Pray that I have provision and strength when I first enter the city. Pray for culture shock and how I handle chaotic situations. 

Thank you for your support and love. I will be updating again very soon.

Love,

Amanda