By a member of SEND’s Romania | Europe team

You might be wondering how I ended up in Romania. The short answer is—God brought me here. My calling to overseas missions began long before I recognized it. At age four, I understood and received the message of salvation. In that moment, I simply believed that Jesus died on the cross, rose from the dead to save me from my sins, and gave me a home with him forever. Although I wasn’t fully aware of the amazing transformation God brought about in my life that day, I had stepped into a new life, received a new identity in Christ, and been entrusted with a new mission. As I grew older, I learned how to develop my relationship with my Heavenly Father through the study of his word and prayer.

Early seeds planted

As a young girl, I was mesmerized by the stories of missionaries who would visit my church, share fascinating pictures, and give remarkable accounts of God’s work in foreign lands. I remember thinking that I would be interested in becoming a missionary, but I had no idea what steps I needed to take. Plus, I had the impression that missionaries must have special qualities or skills that I did not possess. The possibility of me being a missionary seemed inaccessible, so although my heart was open, I dismissed the thought for a while.

Drawn to youth ministry

Throughout middle school and high school, God gave me the opportunity to engage in “local ministry” in my hometown as well as in several other states. I loved helping with Vacation Bible School during the summer and participating in my school’s choir that traveled around to various churches. In college, I recognized God tugging my heart toward working with teens, so I became a youth leader at my church.

During my college years, the Lord increased by burden for the lost through a variety of experiences. At the age of 20, I went on a short-term mission trip to Finland. I also took an Introduction to Islam class and a class about France that raised my awareness of the spiritual darkness in Europe. Until that point, I was not aware of the significant Muslim presence in Europe and the post-Christian culture that now permeates these countries. Over the next 10 years, the Lord allowed me to travel to eight more countries. The first four years after graduation, I taught science at a Christian school where I had daily interactions with Chinese exchange students, as well as students from Indian and Hispanic families.

A united calling to Romania

We sought counsel from our church’s mission’s director, and he eagerly suggested we pray about overseas missions. Jason and I were open to this possibility. We started by taking a vision trip to Spain, considering Jason’s prior knowledge of the language and our interest in serving the people of Europe. God used our trip to confirm his leading into overseas missions, though we were uncertain whether we were supposed to go to Spain or somewhere else. When we returned to the USA, we recognized the need to find a mission agency that could assist us with next steps as well provide continuing accountability, support, and encouragement once we arrived in our host country. SEND International impressed us right away with their core values, good reputation among people we trusted, and our mobilizer’s personal and professional interactions with us. When we applied and were accepted, it felt like entering a family rather than just an organization. The staff made us feel seen, known, heard, and loved from the beginning.

We invite you to come and explore the opportunities in Romania. Together, we can minister to the unreached in this country. Talk to a missions coach today!