But I’m not a pastor, teacher, or missionary.

I was born and raised in a Christian home and personally realized my need for salvation at the age of four. A common term when I was growing up was “full-time Christian service.” My distaste for that term was in its commonly held definition: being a pastor, missionary, or Christian school teacher. My mom often said that I would be a teacher. However, God had a different path for me.

When I was in high school, I surrendered my life to “full-time Christian service.” I worked in the accounting department of a local business and loved everything related to the business world. It was at this time that a new youth pastor took us on mission trips to different countries.

I silently struggled as my desire to study business grew. I wanted to serve the Lord, but I thought I could do that only as a teacher or missionary, and I had no desire whatsoever to teach! I also couldn’t see how giving my life for “full-time Christian service” and working in business could fit together.

My senior year of high school, a Christian businessman spoke in chapel and made a huge difference in my life. He stated that if you are a Christian, you should be in full-time Christian service no matter what your vocation is. I could work in the business field and serve the Lord at the same time!

I finally had peace and an answer to my prayers. I was accepted to a Christian university to study business administration. Proverbs 16:9 says, “The mind of a person plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (NASB).

One summer I went with OREMEX Ministries (now OREMUNDO) to the village of Chalchacoyo, Mexico. During orientation the director, hearing of my intended major at college, said, “We need people like you on the mission field.”

It had never occurred to me that God needed people trained in business. By the end of the trip, I told the Lord that even if it meant living in a mud hut with a thatched roof and no running water or electricity, I would go back to Mexico as a missionary.

I decided to change my major to missions, but I was wisely counseled to simply add Spanish, missions classes, and extra Bible classes to my schedule. That summer, I served as a cook at a Christian camp, where I gained valuable experience cooking for large groups.

Proverbs 3:5–6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Following graduation many people told me that I couldn’t be a missionary, because there was nothing I could do as a single lady. My home-church pastor, however, fully supported my desire to go.

When I began with OREMEX, I was advised to try it for the summer before finalizing my decision. I worked in the office some weeks and went into Mexico other weeks—cooking, teaching children’s classes, and working with teens. Since OREMEX wanted me eventually to transition to office work exclusively and my heart’s desire was missions work in Mexico, I made the decision to leave that assignment. My first full-time Saturday in Mexico I learned that I would be teaching in the Bible Institute beginning Monday. I had studied Spanish but didn’t speak fluently. It was sink or swim! God closed that door after a few months.

I decided to get a job in the States and on the very day of submitting an application, I received a call in the evening! Gospel Fellowship Association was looking for someone with my degree and a heart for missions. God answered my prayers exceedingly beyond anything I could have asked or thought! I moved to South Carolina and began working in the home office of GFA. I planned to be there for one year and return to Mexico. Instead, I worked in the office for the next five years and met my husband, Mark, during that time. God provided me with valuable experience and taught me so much both philosophically and practically, preparing me for the next step.

GFA accepted us as missionaries in 2002, but I was not excited to go to Costa Rica. My heart was still in Mexico. As we took a group of teens to Costa Rica, I specifically prayed that God would use that trip to give someone a heart for Costa Rica. He did—me!

When we arrived in 2006, we were the enemy’s target. I said, “The devil just wants us to leave, but we’re not going to!” I was soon sent back to the States for six months for health reasons. God was again working in ways I didn’t understand. People think health problems exclude you from the mission field. However, I’m glad I didn’t waste my life waiting to get healthy before serving Him.  God has helped me physically and has also used my health problems for His glory. Don’t limit God! He can use you if you are willing.