Send Shelby [back] to Africa!
My story begins long before the planning of this summer’s mission. If I were to look for the start I would have to go back to a farm in the middle-of-nowhere Missouri, just outside of a town that is the tiniest of map dots. I spent the vast majority of my childhood with my grandparents on this farm. Naturally, there wasn’t anything glamorous about our lives. My cousins and I spent our days roaming through acres of woods, swimming in a creek, turning over rocks to find out what slimy creature might be hiding underneath, and eating blackberries (without washing them off). By the grace of God we made it to adulthood!
My grandmother had a knack for making sure that her grandchildren were well-cultured. It seemed like she always had a book for us to read, a documentary to watch, or an old black and white movie about a far off place. When I was just a kid she introduced me to a movie called The African Queen. Something about watching a graceful Katharine Hepburn and scruffy Humphrey Bogart navigate the Ulanga River sparked my wanderlust. From that moment I had what I always felt to be an unrealistic dream to go to Africa.
I was 14 when I began following Jesus. Everything about the way I saw the world changed. My wanderlust still existed, but it was fueled by something other than a mere desire to SEE the world. Matthew 28 taught me that my life had a purpose and that I was meant for more. I needed to GO and SHARE the Gospel love of Christ with others. The first mission trip I had ever attended was Global Encounter’s St. Louis Project. I was TERRIFIED, but by the end of the week I was ready for the next one! Little did I know that I would be on my first flight to Senegal six years later.
When you fly into Senegal, you land in the capital city, Dakar. I’ll always remember what it smells like when they open the airplane doors to let the passengers off. The city has quite a bit of hustle and bustle, but our mission is about twelve hours inland; also known as, “the bush”. Things move a little slower in the villages. It didn’t take long for me to realize that growing up on a farm was exactly the kind of preparation I needed. I had learned at a young age that it was ok to get my hands dirty, sleep on the ground, and eat things that didn’t come from a grocery store. How wonderful is it that God has a plan for us and knows exactly what we need before we do?! I had always taken my simple farm life for granted. I never understood why God would place a girl with big dreams in what seemed like such an ordinary place. Now I see my childhood farm life as one of my greatest treasures! Because of it, this white girl feels perfectly at home in a village in Africa.
When I look back at all the missions I have gone on, I see how each one has been a miracle and a gift from God in its own way. Foreign missions have never been something that I could fit into my own budget. However, I am a firm believer that if it’s His will for you to go somewhere, He will provide the means of getting there. I praise God for each and every individual who prays, supports me financially, and for those who are just crazy enough to go with me!
My goal this year is to spend as much of my summer as I can in the village with some wonderful people. I will do my best to share God’s word and teach others to share as well. This is where YOU come in! As you can see, my financial need for this trip is large. I will be extremely grateful for any donations that I receive! Thank you in advance for helping with operation: Send Shelby [Back] to Africa!!
My grandmother had a knack for making sure that her grandchildren were well-cultured. It seemed like she always had a book for us to read, a documentary to watch, or an old black and white movie about a far off place. When I was just a kid she introduced me to a movie called The African Queen. Something about watching a graceful Katharine Hepburn and scruffy Humphrey Bogart navigate the Ulanga River sparked my wanderlust. From that moment I had what I always felt to be an unrealistic dream to go to Africa.
I was 14 when I began following Jesus. Everything about the way I saw the world changed. My wanderlust still existed, but it was fueled by something other than a mere desire to SEE the world. Matthew 28 taught me that my life had a purpose and that I was meant for more. I needed to GO and SHARE the Gospel love of Christ with others. The first mission trip I had ever attended was Global Encounter’s St. Louis Project. I was TERRIFIED, but by the end of the week I was ready for the next one! Little did I know that I would be on my first flight to Senegal six years later.
When you fly into Senegal, you land in the capital city, Dakar. I’ll always remember what it smells like when they open the airplane doors to let the passengers off. The city has quite a bit of hustle and bustle, but our mission is about twelve hours inland; also known as, “the bush”. Things move a little slower in the villages. It didn’t take long for me to realize that growing up on a farm was exactly the kind of preparation I needed. I had learned at a young age that it was ok to get my hands dirty, sleep on the ground, and eat things that didn’t come from a grocery store. How wonderful is it that God has a plan for us and knows exactly what we need before we do?! I had always taken my simple farm life for granted. I never understood why God would place a girl with big dreams in what seemed like such an ordinary place. Now I see my childhood farm life as one of my greatest treasures! Because of it, this white girl feels perfectly at home in a village in Africa.
When I look back at all the missions I have gone on, I see how each one has been a miracle and a gift from God in its own way. Foreign missions have never been something that I could fit into my own budget. However, I am a firm believer that if it’s His will for you to go somewhere, He will provide the means of getting there. I praise God for each and every individual who prays, supports me financially, and for those who are just crazy enough to go with me!
My goal this year is to spend as much of my summer as I can in the village with some wonderful people. I will do my best to share God’s word and teach others to share as well. This is where YOU come in! As you can see, my financial need for this trip is large. I will be extremely grateful for any donations that I receive! Thank you in advance for helping with operation: Send Shelby [Back] to Africa!!