In 2024, a brother from my small group, also a mission board member, asked if I would like to teach English to a partner church in Mongolia over Zoom. I responded with hesitation.
At this point in my life, I had no interest in the mission field, I had no connection to the kids, and zero experience teaching English.
The only thing I knew about Mongolia was what I learned in middle school about the Mongol Empire centuries ago. There was nothing to draw me in and nothing to gain from participating.
Despite my reservations, I agreed. I had no good reason to say no. I had recently committed my life to Christ, and I wanted to step out in faith to serve God’s people.
The night before our first class, as I was praying, I felt the Holy Spirit touch my heart.
A peaceful bliss descended upon me along with the realization that this was certainly the first time I would serve the Lord for no other reason than to serve.
God saw the lack of love in my heart and simply filled it. Soon after, I went from not caring to looking forward to these classes, and they quickly became the best part of my week.
When I heard that the applications for the Mongolia short-term mission opened up, I signed up immediately. There was no way I would miss an opportunity to see these kids.
For this trip, our team had planned a summer camp retreat for that church, and it was sweet to hear they remembered me. Overall, the retreat went well. However, some chaos erupted as we were preparing to leave the camp site, and in the panic I “accidentally” left my bags. An hour on the road back to the city, we got a call from the camp notifying us that two bags were left in one of the rooms—my room. So, we decided that I would join the church leader’s husband and take his van back to the site while the rest of the team and children rode the bus back to their church.
While on the road, as I was reflecting on the retreat, the beauty of the countryside, and the tremendous need of the people, God reached down and placed a unique love in my heart I had never experienced before in my life. All of a sudden, what started as a random set of strangers in a country I knew nearly nothing about outside of my middle school world history class, became God’s children whom he loved and the most important people in my life.
It was no accident.
God wanted to send me a message, and that message declared emphatically, “Your future is here.” At that moment, the trajectory of my life changed.
As the trip continued, something became very clear. There was a tremendous need for Jesus Christ in this place. For all the churches we visited, there was one consistent thread among all the congregations:
The brokenness of the family.
Coming from my own context, I realized how easy it is for me to take certain blessings for granted. Like a fish in water, we do not recognize just how much we owe our lifestyle to the good grace of God. In Mongolia, I became more aware of how deeply every community needs the hope and healing found in Christ. The scales fall from your eyes, and you see exactly the ways God can be a blessing to the community. It was heartbreaking to watch the children play while also hearing stories of family breakdown, abandonment, alcoholism, and deep discouragement in some of the communities we visited. However, combating the darkness was an awe-inspiring love that clearly shines upon the congregation from the leaders and the missionaries who love them.
From all the conversations we had, it was clear that there are people dedicated to sharing the power of Christ with the Mongolian people, and God would not let their efforts be in vain. As these interactions during the trip continued, no longer was this country simply an odd shape on a map to me. It was now a culture full of God’s children, and they need him.
Becoming a full-time missionary is not an easy decision to make. There are so many factors to consider.
My thoughts are constantly flooded with logistical issues, like where I would stay and where I could actually be helpful.
I think about cultural issues like adjusting to the lifestyle and learning a new language.
There are familial issues like who is going to take care of my parents and if they even understand what this life entails.
The most significant challenge I have to face now, however, is personal. As a single Christian, I would prefer to be married. This calling also changes the way I think about dating and marriage. I realize that any future spouse would need to understand, share, or at least be willing to walk with me in this missionary calling. It’s possible that the only women I can even consider now are missionaries or women from the community I hope to serve. Still, this is the call that I received, and I must put God first over everything, even if it means a life of singleness. Part of being a servant of God means I trust him to provide me with everything I need to serve faithfully in his kingdom.
I know I am still young and still learning. I do not yet know all that this calling will require, and I need the wisdom, counsel, and prayers of those who have walked this road before me. I am grateful that God has not called me to discern this alone but has placed me in a church community that has invited me, equipped me, and encouraged me to take these first steps in faith. As I continue this journey, I welcome the guidance and prayers of brothers and sisters who can help me listen more carefully and serve more faithfully.
May he continue to bring me clarity on this unfolding journey of discovery.
