A brief history of my life in the field

When I was little, my parents were musicianaries (music missionaries). They had their own evangelistic band named the Testimony Band. They traveled around the South and even "made it to Nashville". My parents played in churches, coffee shops, prisons, Tent Revivals, anywhere the Lord would open up a door. Their message was simple, to bring the Gospel to the World.

So I guess you can say that I lived life as a "groupie" throughout my childhood. There are photos of me in the merch booth, rocking my parent's band's T-shirt. I loved life on the road...maybe this is the season in life where I caught the travel+music bug?

In high school, I traveled to France to do French Immersion and explore the culture with other American students learning French. The trip was nothing short of incredible. I love French people and being from Louisiana, I definitely feel connected to this people group and continue to pray for them and meet up with them no matter where I travel.

After my life changing European adventure, two weeks from my return stateside, my dad and I joined a few local missionaries and headed on a road trip from Louisiana to Reynosa, Mexico to do a short missions trip. We thought we were going there to help the locals, but they were actually about to change the trajectory of my life and its purpose.

We handed out beans, toys, and played soccer with orphans. We helped build a small church and led worship for a congregation so "die-hard" some even walked 3 miles just to get to service. I learned a very new beautiful word and song in that season, "Santo" (holy) and a beautiful new name, "Jorge"(George)...the little orphan boy who knew no English but new enough hand gestures to invite me on his soccer team for a game.

I decided in my heart after my quick culture exchange and shock from living in the States, to living as an exchange student in France, to being a young missionary in Mexico, to returning home...that I never wanted to travel again unless I had a clear mission in mind and purpose from Jesus in doing so.

After high school graduation in 2011, I headed to an inlet off of the coast of Vancouver Island called Esperanza (hope). There, with my sister, we were camp counselors at a Native American specific outreach isolated island. Again, my heart was wrecked for missions and specifically, for my tribe. Being First Nations as we are called in Canada, as a native, I know that my life is to be a warrior on mission for the Kingdom of Light, Heaven, Jesus.

I have had the privilege of serving at that camp for four consecutive summers. Each time, I have been grateful and thankful that the Lord opened doors for me to share His love with those who I now call family, and who now call me sicpax bait (First Nations for "cougar" bait...my name of endearment from campers, as I wasn't the fastest hiker when I first went to camp ESPA).

Fast forward to the past four years living back in my hometown. Since 2013, I have been a youth pastor over some of the most incredibly gifted, beautiful, strong, faithful, and thoughtful young people that I have ever met. Truly, they weren't just my "disciples", but they are my friends. I have seen them turn their lives over to the Lord. I have heard them dream dreams of being missionaries, musicians, and teachers one day. I have no doubt the Lord will fulfill all of His promises over their lives. I can only pray that those seeds I helped plant and water over the past four years will take root and bear much fruit for the kingdom of Heaven.

With every season change and assignment change, it is all bitter-sweet. But, as I mentioned in my first blog, a new field is calling my name, specifically, at large, the Pacific. I believe I am to go more long term and trust God to lead me to who needs an answer to prayer.

I believe we all are an answer to either Jesus' intercession or the prayers of His people. There are sons and daughters of the most High living God that are still living in darkness and do not truly know our Heavenly Father. I believe many in darkness are actually crying out, waiting for someone to come to them and tell them about Jesus. (see Romans 10:14)

God uses willing vessels who will go wherever His Spirit leads to bring the good news that Jesus loves, saves, heals and is alive and with His sons and daughters. I believe there are people in the Pacific crying out to God to send them a willing vessel to love them and help encourage their journey in seeking Jesus for their needs, healings, salvation, destiny, etc. I am answering a new call, unbeknownst to me until recently, that I believe all of my previous tastes of missions, counseling, and pastoral life have been leading me up to.

I am taking the plunge and leaving my comfort for the comfort of the Holy Spirit. I am not yet launched and have not yet left, but I am making all preparations to be able to go. I believe going and staying are equally important and so this season requires many faith steps and all of the fruits of the Spirit. Many questions are yet to be answered, but I know that I can trust the one who has called me.

Jumping into the Pacific Ocean with my sister in 2011

Youth Pastor Life 2015 with some missionaries to be.

ESPA Boys Camp 2016

Reynosa Orphanage with the American Missionary Crew 2009

In France with peers 2009

A photo I took of a child in the midst of the crowd we were handing beans, rice, candy, and toys to in Mexico 2009

Lord willing I will be on one like this, Jan 2018. Living on a ship, bringing medical supplies and the love of Jesus to the peoples of the Pacific.

Youth With a Mission (YWAM) has Discipleship Training Schools (DTS) around the world. These are basically Missionary Schools and launching pads for missionaries with mission outreaches to the lost, hurting, marginalized, etc. I will be moving to Kona this Jan 2018 to do a YWAM DTS and an Evangelistic/ Medical outreach in the Pacific Islands. I am selling it all, to answer the call "Who will go?"..."Here I am Lord, Send me"-Is. 6:8

#travel #missionbegins