Hello World!
Wow, it's amazing to me that with a few clicks of a button, I can type out a message that literally anyone in the world (with internet access) can see. Woah!
Anyway, I want to welcome you to my blog! This whole blog-writing gig is new to me so I ask you to be patient with me as I figure out the in and the outs of all this.
The reason I am starting this blog is for a few reasons. One of the reasons is that I want to keep you all up to date on what is happening in my life and how you can be a part of it all! I'll explain how I got to this point in a bit, but I wanted to say right now...I have joyfully accepted a long term missionary position with ReachGlobal (the mission sending organization of the Evangelical Free Church). I do not have a final location yet, but I have accepted a position entitled "Special Needs/Orphan Advocate"!
For those of you who know me well, you know that since at least 2008, my heart has yearned and desired to love deeply those children without parents. This passion began when a few friends told me about the horrible conditions in a land called Romania. Those injustices have stuck with me for a long time. The same year that I learned about the poor conditions in Romania, I also learned about the deep, personal relationship that can be had with Jesus Christ. Sure, I grew up in the church, but I had no idea what it meant to be best friends with the Savior of the world. Thank you Lord for this gift of salvation!
A quick glimpse over my college years means that you can see a young woman that was growing into someone that loved Jesus and wanted to follow Him in her everyday life. This young woman's heart was also loving children, especially orphans with special needs. As my college years came to a close, I embarked on an AmeriCorps journey to Pennsylvania where I was able to live closely with people with special needs. But my heart still beat for those children that were overseas and so desperately needing someone to love them, but more importantly, these children that need to know Someone that loves them more than any earthly parents can love them.
Last year I took the Perspectives class (link can be found here for those of you who haven't taken it yet..do it! http://www.perspectives.org/) This class opened my eyes even further to the world outside of the United States and the need to spread the Gospel around the world! Last November, I was on ReachGlobal's website and was looking around to see what they were doing in the Philippines. Lo and behold, a box popped up on the side of my computer that said "Orphan/Special Needs Advocate". I about jumped out of my seat as I realized that these two passions of mine can exist in one position! I of course put my email address in that little box! Over the last 7 months, I have been applying for this position in various ways and am now at the spot of having said YES LORD. HERE I AM. SEND ME.
I am not sure where I will be going or when I will be leaving, but I do want to keep you all updated via this blog! Please stay tuned to what God is doing in my life, and I will keep you updated on ways that you can partner with me through this journey as well.
Until next time my friends,
Mandi
Wow, it's amazing to me that with a few clicks of a button, I can type out a message that literally anyone in the world (with internet access) can see. Woah!
Anyway, I want to welcome you to my blog! This whole blog-writing gig is new to me so I ask you to be patient with me as I figure out the in and the outs of all this.
The reason I am starting this blog is for a few reasons. One of the reasons is that I want to keep you all up to date on what is happening in my life and how you can be a part of it all! I'll explain how I got to this point in a bit, but I wanted to say right now...I have joyfully accepted a long term missionary position with ReachGlobal (the mission sending organization of the Evangelical Free Church). I do not have a final location yet, but I have accepted a position entitled "Special Needs/Orphan Advocate"!
For those of you who know me well, you know that since at least 2008, my heart has yearned and desired to love deeply those children without parents. This passion began when a few friends told me about the horrible conditions in a land called Romania. Those injustices have stuck with me for a long time. The same year that I learned about the poor conditions in Romania, I also learned about the deep, personal relationship that can be had with Jesus Christ. Sure, I grew up in the church, but I had no idea what it meant to be best friends with the Savior of the world. Thank you Lord for this gift of salvation!
A quick glimpse over my college years means that you can see a young woman that was growing into someone that loved Jesus and wanted to follow Him in her everyday life. This young woman's heart was also loving children, especially orphans with special needs. As my college years came to a close, I embarked on an AmeriCorps journey to Pennsylvania where I was able to live closely with people with special needs. But my heart still beat for those children that were overseas and so desperately needing someone to love them, but more importantly, these children that need to know Someone that loves them more than any earthly parents can love them.
Last year I took the Perspectives class (link can be found here for those of you who haven't taken it yet..do it! http://www.perspectives.org/) This class opened my eyes even further to the world outside of the United States and the need to spread the Gospel around the world! Last November, I was on ReachGlobal's website and was looking around to see what they were doing in the Philippines. Lo and behold, a box popped up on the side of my computer that said "Orphan/Special Needs Advocate". I about jumped out of my seat as I realized that these two passions of mine can exist in one position! I of course put my email address in that little box! Over the last 7 months, I have been applying for this position in various ways and am now at the spot of having said YES LORD. HERE I AM. SEND ME.
I am not sure where I will be going or when I will be leaving, but I do want to keep you all updated via this blog! Please stay tuned to what God is doing in my life, and I will keep you updated on ways that you can partner with me through this journey as well.
Until next time my friends,
Mandi