My most powerful and vivid God encounter. It wasn't just in one day. it actually took place over a period of five days, but it all had to do with the same thing. 

Friday night I got home from Haiti. It was a tiring day full of travel. Flying and driving and craziness in a foreign country and finally getting home and adjusting. Then of course, being more tired than ever, but wanting to tell everyone about my trip and what God had been doing there. It was such a great experience. 

But that wasn't the only thing it was. 

In Haiti we stayed at an orphanage in Port-au-Prince, right by the airport.  Where people came to and left from every single day. Where a new group of people would come from and leave to. 

AND EVERY KID KNEW IT.

 It was routine. Groups came and left. But still every kid I came into contact with was hopeful that they would finally get something deeper. Not just a one week entertainer, but a lasting friendship. 

Each and every person at the orphanage was awesome, special, and unique. And each and every child poured everything they had into a relationship with you. They wanted to spend every second with you.  Just to hold your hand, or play with your hair, or draw pictures, or give you presents. They were looking for something. Desperately. The week came and went so quickly. Investing into a relationship day in and day out that would eventually turn into nothing. I knew at the end of the week I was leaving and going home to my "awesome" life. And yet, they still hoped that wasn't the case. 

But the time came... Friday came, and we all left. And they waved goodbye as we drove away. 

In the airport we were all talking about the trip, the kids we fell in love with, and how tired we were. Hours later we finally boarded our flight. 

And then God showed up. 

Until this moment I felt like I had just been on a mission trip like every other. We came, did what we were supposed to, and left. Done more harm then good. Or maybe did nothing at all?

 But what I saw changed my life forever. 

I was sitting in a window seat quietly to myself just reviewing and reliving the past couple days. When for some reason I decided to look at the window. I looked down at all 75 kids from the orphanage standing outside on the balcony waving to our plane, in the air, taking off. And then I so vividly saw God. Everyone else began to notice them and starting tearing up and all I could do was sit and listen. Sit and listen to what God began to say.  My missions journey wasn't done. He just kept asking me why I was even leaving. If I was dissatisfied, why would I have even gotten on the plane? I wanted to be doing missions. Not coming home and going back to Cosmetology school on Monday. 

For the next two hours I sat there in silence. Just reflecting and talking to God. 

The next day I went to church. It was a Saturday night. I was feeling awesome but also very sad and slightly confused. Before Friday I knew what I was doing with my life and what I wanted. Now I was completely confused. Then the worship band began to play "God of this city" by Chris Tomlin. During the song I felt the Holy Spirit tugging at my heart. He really placed the people of Haiti on my heart and I was immediately in tears (and that was not a common thing for me). My heart was literally broken.  He didn't want me to forget about His lost people. 

As if Friday and Saturday weren't enough He shows up again. 

On Tuesday nights I go to a college aged ministry called The Tree. And out of nowhere they called the Haiti group up to talk. Public Speaking terrifies me to death. I don't remember a single word I spoke. And as I'm standing there staring at 400 people I'm thinking about how stupid I probably just sounded. The only thing I heard after I spoke was "How can you say you're a Christian and not constantly be on the mission field? Wherever you are at.. is your mission field!"

And then that was all I could think about.  

After that it was just me and God. For the next 45 minutes I just sat there and had this very intimate conversation with my dad. As He explained to me how He would be providing and caring and taking after me and I explained to Him that I was willing and ready to submit and follow. 

He had continually showed up. I was a little embarrassed that it had taken me three times of coming face to face with God to actually get it.  But I actually did. It was like, for the first time in my life I needed Him to stare me in the face and tell me exactly what to do. And it was awesome, and so clear!

From that point on I had no option but to continually pursue my life as a missionary and what those next steps might be.

"And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!"

-Romans 10:15