I remember growing up walking into church on Missions Sunday as a child. I remember walking into the sanctuary to sit at the usual Koch family pew and being completely in awe of the flags hanging from the ceiling from all over the globe. After singing some songs in worship a missionary would take the stage and share stories about life in the bush of Africa or sharing gospel to the people of Asia. I remember as a young child thinking, "WOW, I want to be like them!" However, once the innocence of a child wears off. I didn't think that the missionary life was so cool. In fact, I never thought I was the missionary type. Don't get me wrong. I loved global missions and the work missionaries were doing for Christ around the world but I was fine doing kids ministry in the U.S. of A. I would even continue to go on several short term missions trips throughout my high school and college career.
Little did I know that as I went on these short term trips as a student God would begin to plant the seed for missions on my heart. What started with high school missions trips would eventually lead me to where I am today. Which is a missionary.
Not too long ago I spent a week down in the Smoky Mountains at missionary orientation with TEAM. On the last day of orientation they commissioned all of us as missionaries. I remember during the commissioning one of the men leading the morning said, "Well, I guess you are all officially missionaries now!" I remember coming home and going to church the next Sunday where I would run into a long time family friend who I hadn't seen in quite a few years. They asked me, "What are you doing these days?" Meaning where do I work. I begin to answer the question with, "I'm currently unemployed. But..." Then I stopped. Thought a little bit. Then spewed out, "I'm a missionary." This was the first time I had called myself a missionary. EVER. I stood there rather shocked at my answer while thinking I hope this person doesn't see how shocked I am on my face. (I'm known for making faces that I'm not aware of.) Fortunately, they didn't realize my shock and answered with, "Wow, that's really awesome!" We then went on to talk about Peru and my vision to work with the children's ministry at the church in Arequipa.
All that to say, I'm a missionary. Me. Plain Jane Alison is a missionary. If you had asked me a year ago where I'd be right now I would not have responded with, I'm a missionary. Goes to say that God can change the trajectory of your life in an instant. That is, when you choose to follow God in every circumstance He will lead you in situations that you aren't always comfortable with. I have to remember, now more than anything, that I'm not called to be comfortable. If anything I need to be uncomfortable. For me being uncomfortable is a sign of learning and growth. I'm incredibly excited for the journey that God is taking me on. It's not always easy but I know that in the end it will be eternally rewarding. Because my comfort is nowhere near as important as one's salvation.
