Love from South Africa

Decision Time The last few months have been a little crazy to say the least. Between packing up to leave, online classes, ministry, church events and spending the little amount of precious time we had left with dear friends, we also had to think about and pray through where to go next. This decision was a weighty one for sure. How could we chose a different country to spend the last year of our internship after our hearts were already captured by the place we chose in the beginning, the place that stole our hearts over a year ago… But God consistently brought me back to what He did in my life through our time in South Korea. We were never prepared for that change. We had no idea it was coming. We knew practically nothing about South Korea, we just knew that that was where God was taking us. Through our time there, God showed me how the unexpected can become one of the biggest blessings of all. I look back on that time with thankfulness that even through all the heartache and cha

The little things. Every Wednesday, Heather and I have the opportunity to teach at a Buddhist temple school along with two others. There, two worlds collide. Because public schools are connected to Buddhist temples, children grow up from a very young age with Buddhism constantly in their faces. It becomes a part of who they are. To be Thai is to be Buddhist. But in the midst of this hopeless religion, we get to bring Jesus into the picture. We get to bring unwavering hope, genuine love, and the power of the Gospel, all of which these underprivileged Thai children are unfamiliar with. Through teaching English, we are able to share simple stories about who Jesus is and what he has done for us. Our goal is to create an atmosphere where we can learn together, laugh together, and play together; for this is what so many of those precious kids need. To be loved and accepted, cherished and wanted, hopeful and free. I pray that even with their limited understanding of English, they are beg

Daily life. These past few months in Thailand have been both wild and amazing. I don’t think it’s been quite what we expected but it’s been wonderful all the same. It’s had its ups and downs for sure, but through it all, God has been faithful. For the past two months, Heather and I have had the awesome privilege of being able to teach children, teens, and adults almost all of which do not know Christ. So while we teach English to them, we also have the opportunity to share Christ with them. This can sometimes be challenging considering the fact that they have basically no biblical background whatsoever. However, though somewhat daunting at times, it is also extremely exciting that God has allowed us to be a part of their journey towards Him. In addition, we have been learning Thai five days a week. This past week, we finished our last day of Thai school. It was definitely a bittersweet goodbye. We were more than happy to ditch the two hour commute each way to and from Thai school,

Beginning again. About a month ago, Heather and I arrived in Thailand for the second time. During our 19 hour plane ride, a multitude of emotions flooded my heart: joy, sadness, gratefulness, anxiety… The thought of leaving the students that I had just spent 2 ½ months building relationships with saddened my heart; the thought of starting over with a new ministry and new people made me somewhat apprehensive. BUT, I found hope and rest in the fact that God made a way for us to come back for a reason. He knew what he was doing when he burdened my heart for this country one year earlier and he knew what he was doing when he allowed us to return. Take two. During our first week here, we spent a lot of time preparing for a group of Word of Life students to arrive for a missions trip. This missions trip was not just any missions trip. It was on this very trip last year that God changed my life and brought me back to Thailand. It was this very trip that began this crazy journey. I’m

Time well spent. When I think about my time here in Korea, the first word that comes to mind is  blessed . I never would've imagined what God would do in these short two months. I’m so thankful for the opportunities I’ve had to aid in and witness students learn and grow by the power of God working in their lives. About four weeks ago, we accepted 9 new students into the SYME program. I have had the privilege of teaching them the book of Matthew for Bible Study class. It has been both a pleasure and a challenge. Though their English level is much lower than my previous Bible Study class, I have been able to see them grow in their knowledge and understanding. At the beginning, I questioned how much they were really comprehending, however, after the first few weeks, many of them expressed that Bible Study was their favorite class and that they were learning a lot. It was such a blessing to see the fruits of my labor in that way.   The great unknown. In less tha

Better than I could've imagined. It's hard to believe that I have already been here for one month. What a crazy month it's been. I can't even begin to describe the incredible blessing it has been to be here in Korea. What once seemed like the next best thing now seems the best thing that could've possibly happened. Through all the changes and heartache, God has not ceased to demonstrate his beautiful grace. Coming into this, I had no idea what to expect. I had never been to Korea and really didn't know very much about the culture. Everything was foreign. But God used all the unknowns to show me his greatness. After one week of being here, I was in love not only with the country but with the people and the students. They captured my heart in a way I didn't know was possible. At the end of the first week, three students completed their time at SYME. My heart was broken. I didn't know I could have so much love for people I just met.  Before I l

It started with a burden. I mentioned in my last post that very shortly, in fact, just a few days from now, I will be headed to Korea as a cross-cultural intern. My purpose? To share the Good News of what Jesus did for us on the cross and be a light in a dark world. I know...it's a big step. Moving half-way across the world for two years is no easy thing. But when God puts a burden on your heart, there's no escaping it. I don't know exactly when the burden began, but it was at a very young age the God put the desire in my heart to help reach the world with the Gospel. I didn't know how.  I didn't know where.  I didn't know when. For years, all I knew was that God was calling me to something beyond the borders of everything I have ever known. In so many ways, it was just a dream. That is until I was presented with this opportunity. An opportunity to spend two years in a different country assisting missionaries with their ministry, sharing the G

You may have read my "about me" info or simply seen the title of my blog and may be wondering how I got to calling myself a modern gypsy. So let's start at the beginning. My mom is from the Bahamas and my dad from South Jersey which is where my story begins. I came into the world on July 11, 1994 in the heart of Camden, NJ. The first three years of my life were spent in that area and then the real story begins. Around the time that I was three, my parents decided to become missionaries on the island of Dominica. So off we went. Though we were unable to stay an extended period of time there, this adventure, although unknown to me at the time, would give me my first taste of overseas missions.  After 6 months, we moved back to the States and shortly after, with my new little brother, moved to Nassau, Bahamas where my mom is originally from. There my dad became a teacher at a small Bible Institute. I have many fond memories of the time spent living there. From trips t