T minus 15 days

I have tried to write this blog countless times.

I have tried putting different words together in an effort to communicate my excitement, but have discovered that it is impossible to really make you feel what I feel.

So I will just let it be known:

I'm going to South Africa in 15 days.


If you're my friend you've probably seen the bajillion posts (is that a word? Because I swear I've said it since I was probably two.) I've had about my Go Fund Me, praying for me, my excitement over all of the crazy developments, etc. But there is a story which I haven't shared up until now, that I would like to tell you.

It's the story of Africa.

No, not the development of countries, the history of South Africa, or the colonization of Durban (where I am going.) It is my God story of Africa, the place where my heart has longed to be for so long that it's ridiculous.

It's my story of God and Africa.

When I seven years old my family lived in Dallas, Texas at Christ For The Nations Institute. (If any of you have heard my Jonas brothers stories, how I knew their family and was convinced that I was going to one day marry Kevin, that is where this was.) It is a famous bible college attended by people from all over the world. When I was young they had CFNA, which was for the children of the students on campus, and also had student housing which we lived in.

I lived there from the time I was 5-7 years old, and I believe the beginning of my story started when I was around the age of 7.

Because the school was on campus, and my older sister attended the private school as well, we were allowed to walk to school without our parents. There was always a large group of us kids walking in the mornings from the apartments to the school. One day as I was walking I heard

"Erin."

I stopped and looked around, but didn't see anyone in my immediate vicinity. I was walking on the other side of the street from my sister, because she was just too cool for me, and was too far away to be loud enough for the voice that I heard. Since I didn't hear anyone I assumed it was just my imagination and kept walking.

And then I heard it again

"Erin."

I turned around and asked my sister if she had called my name, but of course her answer was somewhere along the lines of "No, of course not! You're lame." Or you know, something along those lines that a big 9 year-old sister says to her little 7 year-old sister. So I shrugged it off and continued walking. Finally I heard it one last time

"Erin."

Now mind you, I'm 7 years old, going to a Christian school, having been practically born on a pew. So at this point in my child-like innocence I finally figure out what's going on and simply look up and respond

"God?" figuring that He is repeating His Samuel story with me.

And He's God, so of course He doesn't disappoint. In response I simply hear

"You're going to be a missionary."

And that's where Africa began.

(tune back in tomorrow for more!)