I think I want to go backwards with this story of my life. I am really challenged to write out my thoughts and convictions for our trip, but I am excited about this adventure God is allowing us to go on together. The Puerto Rico trip started for me when I was asked about leading a trip this summer a few months back. I am really cautious about saying no to any opportunity God sets before me, so after some prayer, I agreed. The decision is so much easier because I live with one of the most passionate women of God, my wife Amanda, who since November has been pouring out and working to make it possible for participants to sign up and go. She is the Ambassador Admissions Coordinator, and everyday I hear God stories. Last summer we spent about a month leading a group of middle schoolers in Malawi, and God confirmed so much in our lives and hearts working with youth. Previous mission trips were always a stepping stone to the next one but also my everyday walk with the Lord. I have had the opportunity to serve in Mexico building houses, Peru sharing the Word, Guatemala (several times) building a soccer stadium,
Swaziland encouraging,
Mississippi building back houses and lives, road tripping across the SE United States, but my desire for missions started as a teenager on a trip to the Ukraine. It was a medical trip, and my qualifications were I had been to a doctor before, but God didn’t care. He opened my heart to show me what short term missions were, and how they would continue to be a part in my life. I feel that my first trip was a result of the Lord really dealing with me at a summer camp through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Even though I had been a Christian for years before that camp, God revealed so much in a short time and I was never the same. When I was 13 years old, I received Christ and without a doubt knew He had come to live in me. 7 years prior to that moment was the first time I knew I needed Him, but for some reason I could not completely trust Him with everything. Those 7 years were tough spiritually and full of constantly praying and struggling with His gift of salvation, and going to the altar most chances I got to pray. God was faithful though, and I am blessed to have a family that is firm in Christ.
Just a little more about me though: I grew up playing baseball, basketball, and soccer. Most of my teenage weekends were spent on the road travelling playing soccer. I actually enjoyed school for the most part, while attending a small public high school. After graduating I went to Young Harris College and played soccer there for a year. It was only a two year college, so I transferred to the University of Georgia (UGA) my sophomore year. However, before transferring I met and started dating my beautiful wife. We dated through college, and both of us went on to graduate school at UGA. My degrees are in dirt and water (aka mud), actually Hydrology and Soil Science. Throughout high school and college I worked for the same company company, whose owner became like family and mentored me along the way. Probably one of the best days of my life came when I was blessed to be married to Amanda.
God showed up big that day, and has been walking with us for over 2 years now in marriage. We are so blessed, and recently with Amanda’s new position at AIM it has started just another amazing part of our life. We do have a puppy, Millie (this is her on the boat at the lake).
