For as long as I can remember, people would always ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up.  When I was little, I had this dream of being a doctor.  I was always mesmerized of being able to save someone's life.  When I found out in middle school that I would have to do a lot of studying in math and science, two of my not so strong subjects in school, my dream switched over to being a social worker.  My love for kids became more evident to me, and I had this want to help kids who were in horrible situations.  Throughout high school, I kept going back and forth between wanting to be a social worker or a counselor.  I wanted more than anything to help people.  This has always been present on my heart and in my life.

When I first signed up for this trip, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I thought that I was signing up for a year where I could serve my Father and then just go back to normal life.  I had my own plan and my own dreams.  I was going to go back to college, even though I have never like school.  I thought "I only would have to suffer for 4 more years, and then things would be okay.  I would be able to have a career after that, right?"  And then my Father stepped in and said that my time with school is done.  When I heard that, and even got the confirmation, I felt like my dream was crushed, and my plan was destroyed.  I was put into a situation where I had to trust my Father and that He knew where my life is going.

On September 10th, the Father and I stepped onto the field together once again.  And did we do some things together in the first month!  He introduced me to people that stole my heart away.  He showed me His love for me in a way that I couldn't even imagine, and to make it even better, He made it very clear of the dream that He has for me.

The Father has placed this dream of helping people in my heart.  When I was young, I always had this dream of helping people.  When I little, I always wanted to save people's lives.  When I entered teenage years, I wanted to help children and adults.  When I first signed up for this trip, I just expected a mission trip where I would be able to be changed and serve my Father, and maybe, just maybe, get an idea on where I want the rest of my life to go.  I never expected to step into my new career.  I thought that I was stepping into a "just a job" for the next year.  I heard the Father's call to the nations, but I never thought anything of it.

The more time I spend on the field, the more I realize that this is my dream.  My dream is to love on people, and to serve them, and to point them to the Father.  For the first 3 months, I remember having so much anxiety about the "what's next" stage, and feeling like I had to have it all planned out. I was so caught up in having to have it all planned out, that I wasn't able to hear the Father whisper to me "Jessica, this is my dream for you.  I gave you this passion for people and this love for the nations for a reason.  I want this dream of ours to come true."  When I finally turned off all the voices and sat with my Father, I finally heard it, and knew that this is what the Father has called me too.  

So with that said, when I first signed up for this trip, I had no idea that I would be signing up to enter into the dream that my Father has for me.  I have no idea what that looks like, but my life as a missionary has just begun.