Emily’s Story - Finding Her Calling

Emily is currently a sophomore at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. She is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Public Health with a minor in Nutrition. She attends Harvest House Church in Boone, North Carolina. She is deeply involved in the college ministry there at Harvest House. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Emily has been taking her courses online and she shares that it has been a big transition for her and her teachers. She has been going to church since she was born. But it was in fifth grade when she worked at Hope Community Church when she decided to accept Jesus into her heart. She got baptized when she was in seventh grade and really started to pursue Jesus. But that was more of reading the Bible and she did not really understand what it meant to have a relationship with Jesus. But when she was a sophomore in high school, something just clicked. And she realized that she was missing something in her life and she could not figure out what it was. 

And when Emily heard that there were these mission trips going on in her high school ministry, she immediately knew that she had to go. She knew in her heart that it was the next step. So she told her mom that she was going to India, but ended up going to Haiti that summer. That was the first time that she had been taken out of the distractions of America and was really able to just feel God's peace and presence. And it was the first time that she had ever heard His voice, and it was incredible. In her junior year in high school, she decided to follow her heart and go on a mission trip to India. Emily feels like that trip was the answer to her prayer of trying to figure out who she was. 

She shares how when she was having lunch with Justin, he shared his story of how his mom died of cancer because they did not have enough money to give her the life-saving care that she needed. When Emily heard that story, it was like a flame of ignited in her heart and she finally knew what her calling was. Emily talks about her trip to India and how she helped show the kids from the Orissa orphanage that there is a God there for them and that He loves them and that He can provide for their needs. She shares some highlights of that trip including seeing all the joy on the children’s faces. Although most of them have almost nothing, yet they are so full of joy, so full of excitement. And it felt like nothing could knock them down. She also talks about one of the challenges that she encountered. She talks about the village’s problem with water supply, where they do not have water and indoor plumbing. This really gave Emily a sense of perspective and made her grateful for the things that they have in America. 

Emily shares how missions have changed her life in terms of her prayer life is drastically changed. Many people in India have such a huge faith and trust in God and they're constantly praying about anything and everything in their life. She feels like in America they have lost the power of prayer and just the gift that God has given them to be able to talk to Him through prayer. It is so easy to just put off reading the Bible because of the things that they need to do and blame it on busyness or distractions in this world. But coming back from India and just witnessing their faith in God and their trust in the power of prayer just reminded Emily of the fact that prayer can move mountains.

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Global Hope India: For over 20 years we have been watching God radically transform thousands of Americans & Indian Nationals through missions. We’ve taken nearly 1,000 Americans on short-term mission trips to India. We work with 12 long-term indigenous church planting partners located in North, South, East, & West mainland India as well as Northeast India. We empower the Church in India to make Christ known through leadership, child, & village development projects. Global Hope India is a federally recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit organization located in Morrisville, North Carolina. All gifts are tax-deductible. More about GHI.More about Missions Changed My Life Podcast.

Meet Pastor Kevin: Pastor Kevin is Founder and Executive Director of Global Hope India and your host for Missions Changed My Life Podcast. He’s a poor kid from rural North Carolina, but get this… He just returned from his 50th trip to India in 20 years. If he doesn’t yet hold the Guinness Book of World Records for the most trips to India then he’s got to be close. He’s flown over a million miles to 27 different countries. He’s taken nearly 1,000 people on mission trips to India. Global Hope India has seen thousands of Indian Nationals and Americans radically transformed by God through missions. The miracle continues! More about Pastor Kevin.

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