Hi to all and thank you for wanting to be a part of this journey with me. This is my first time to blog, and I am by no means a creative writer like many of my friends, but I have created this blog in effort to share my experiences in my upcoming Dominican trip with family and friends. My trip will last only 10 days, but it's my first mission type trip. I will be going with Children of the Nations organizations (think World Vision on a smaller scale). As part of my doctorate project I will be conducting a needs assessment of their preschool, specifically motor and cognitive development in 3-5 year olds and the impact it has on their education. Best part of it is getting to spend time with the little ones. As many of you may know, this is something God put in my heart my sophomore year in college. I had been planning on going to Africa, but God's plans were different, as they usually tend to be. In efforts of keeping this short I will simply say that this trip and doctorate internship is nothing short of God's specific plan in my life. It's not just an answered prayer, it's a prayer He planted many years ago. I have no expectations of this trip. I'm excited yet nervous. I'm constantly doubting. But God spoke powerfully through scripture 3 years ago to me in the book of Isaiah.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
I am encouraged and hopeful in his promise. I know His plan will be accomplished. I wonder at what price though. True surrendering, it's rather a scary thought. But He asks us to do it. What will that look like? Only He knows, but for now I will rejoice in the opportunity given to me at the Dominican. Join me on this adventure! Living fully, growing in Him, and sharing the journey!
~V
