If you would have told me in high school that I would move to the other side of the world 5 years later and spend years of my life as a missionary, I would have thought you were crazy.

I had no intention to leave the comforts of my life in America – especially my family- to share Christ with Muslims. My plan was to get a science degree, become a physicians assistant or Dentist, get married, have kids and enjoy life in America.

But God had other plans and He would soon break my heart for Muslims who do not have the opportunity to hear about Jesus.

Growth in College

I became a believer when I was 15 years old. When I started college, I was intentional to find a Christian community. I got involved in Cru and grew so much in my faith during my college years. As a freshman, I started going out in between classes to share the gospel with other college students. I realized as Christians, we are called to share our faith and make disciples. I enjoyed getting to do that and give people the opportunity to hear the gospel!

After my sophomore year, I went on my first overseas trip to the Middle East to learn Arabic and share with college students in a large city there. This was my first exposure to sharing with Muslims and meeting people who had no idea who Jesus was. They didn’t even have Christian friends who could tell them the love God has for them. As I became friends with these girls, drank tea and ate with them, God broke my heart for Muslims. I wanted them to have eternal hope that I had. I felt so sad how a billion people on this planet were blinded from the truth from Islam.

Coming back from that trip, my perspective changed. I wanted to be more intentional with international students and refugees in America. I started to think “What if I move to a Muslim country after college?” It was a scary and exciting thought at the same time.

Unreached?

God continued to grow that desire to love and share Christ with Muslims. I took a class called Perspectives and first learned that there are still 3 billion people in the world who have not heard the gospel of Jesus and are considered “unreached.” I was shocked that there were still over 6,000 unreached people groups and very few missionaries among them. Most missionaries were serving in reached areas. The only way they would hear about Jesus was if someone from an outside culture went to them.

The amount of work still needed to be done to spread the glory of God to the ends of the earth was overwhelming. I asked God, “Show me what you want me to do to be apart of the Great Commission – to make disciples of all nations. I am willing, Lord!”

Leading me to Indonesia

Over the next year, He made it clear that He wanted me to go and serve in a Muslim country. So I began the process to pray about where He wanted me to go and when. I joined a missionary training program through church and spent 9 months reaching out to refugees and preparing to move overseas.  Through different connections, God led me to a team in Indonesia.

I actually knew very little about Indonesia. I had no idea it was the largest Muslim country in the world with 220 million Muslims. But I was willing and ready to be used by God to make Him known there.

The next 4 years would be the hardest and best years of my life. God moved in amazing ways and most of all worked in my heart in ways I never would have imagined. I understood that it was the greatest privilege to join in His work of sharing the gospel and discipling new sisters in Christ.

No matter where we are in the world, we get to glorify Him and bring the most amazing news of salvation to those around us. He didn’t have to use us, but He chose to use His children to spread to gospel to the nations. He is the one changing hearts, we just have to be obedient!

For His Glory,

~H.