I had little interest in missions. I had little concept of what the word "missions" meant. That changed the summer of 2000 when I heard the testimony of several of the students in our church youth group. They spoke about their summer mission trips. I was so moved by their stories that I knew the I had to go the next summer.

The next summer I went. My first over-seas experience was as a team leader of high school students in Togo, West Africa. It was very hot. I was inexperienced. My team was young. The Gospel message was translated from English to French and then to tribal Bassar. God worked in and through us regardless of our circumstances and inexperience.

We prayed for people to be healed, and they were healed. We shared who Jesus was with tribal people who lived under the blanket of animism and voodoo. One afternoon, and one old woman changed my life forever. Like so many other times we were warmly invited into this woman's home. We stood chatting with her as she swept her dirt floor. Our translator shared with her that because Jesus loved her so much and wanted her to know, we came from America to tell her. I felt the need to tell her that Jesus wanted her to be in the light as He is in the light, to shine like the stars in the heavens. Since one of my students was talking with her I was quiet. The woman listened intently. She nodded but I was not sure if she really understood. Then the translator said to us that the woman said that she would like to ask Jesus to be her Savior. We bowed our heads with tearful eyes and led her in a prayer of commitment. After we had prayed with the timeworn woman, she thanked us by saying "I want to tell you that all my life I walked in darkness, until today. Now I will walk in the light." I could not contain my tears. I cried for joy. I cried in awe of God‘s faithfulness.

The following year God led me to Kenya, East Africa. This new trip far exceeded all expectations that I had. Our conditions were much more difficult. However, lack of shower, toilet, bed, but no lack of spiders could not rob us of our joy. I was once again privileged to witness another beautiful revelation. We walked miles into the bush where we met a Massai family. We followed precise protocol and were amazed when the Massai elder not only gave permission for his wives to accept Jesus but he himself gave his heart and life to Jesus. Before praying he said in his bellowing voice "I knew that my family was blessed because of God. I knew that my crops and herds were blessed because of God. And I waited for someone to come and tell me who He is."

I knew at that moment that I would go where ever God sent me.

By January of 2004 I had quit my job as a graphic artist at my church. I gave up my apartment, lost my car and left for Scotland. It was in the small village of Seamill, West Kilbride that I completed my discipleship training school. It was also in the tiny seaside village that I grew to love Scotland and her wonderful people. I saw the tremendous gifts in them as well as their great potential. I had vision of training young Scots to be leaders in their country. God has given me a heart to call young people forth.

"Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;" Genesis 12:1-3

Scotland is the land God has shown me, and is sending me, for such a time as this.

I look forward with great joy to see God’s will unfold in Scotland and in the lives of those I come to serve.