Saved to Serve
But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, `I am only a child. ' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 1:7
This year, I made a vow with the Lord to be a student missionary. This was not an easy decision because I had several challenges. Among them, I will be missing my family and friends, get delayed on my college graduation, and I have always wanted to follow my own plans. However, I have witnessed my mother's sacrifices when she gave up her job as a nurse in the US and for two years, served in numerous communities in the mountains of the Philippines. I have been inspired and most of all, the thought that God has sacrificed His son Jesus for me and realizing that God's framework is always better than my own made me accept the call to become a student missionary.​
I hope you are inspired by my journey in Hilo, Hawaii that God has called me to. I created this platform to share my experiences with YOU! <3
Why Hawaii?
This was a question that many people asked me. In fact, this was a question I asked myself too. I wasn't sure how to reply to people who asked me why I chose Hawaii. Mainly because Hawaii was not my first choice. So let's be transparent... I wanted to go to Zimbabwe but there were conflicting opinions within my family which was delaying the idea of being a student missionary. During those decision making days, I discovered that God had made the plans for me. So did I choose Hawaii? No, God has chosen Hawaii for me.
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Before I officially decided to be a student missionary, I had a dream that I believe God gave me. The dream: In my dream, I remembered how conflicted I was because I really wanted to go to Zimbabwe. However, it felt like something else was tugging on my heart. In the dream, it somehow transitioned to me sitting at my desk with my laptop open looking at call lists of places that are needing help. Then, it showed Hawaii in big glowy letters saying "One TA position left." As soon as I woke up, I knew I had to go to Hawaii. When I talked to the student missions director at the school I attend, he told me that there is a school in Hawaii that needs as much help they could get.
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I struggled with telling people where I was going. I had already heard comments like "Are you going on vacation or are you really doing missionary work?", "That doesn't sound like a mission trip.", and "Is there really help needed in Hawaii?" I couldn't blame them from asking those questions. Afterall, Hawaii is known as a vacation spot. However, as a young student missionary, it was not encouraging to hear. Especially since I was feeling the same feelings as any other young student missionary who would have to leave behind friends and family. In fact, I was willing to throw away what God had called me to do just because I cared more of what people thought of me.
Hearing all those comments, I became uncertain and doubted my decision but my mom said, "Kamea, if God called you in Hawaii, then respond to that call. If your motives are right with the Lord, and your purpose is God's purpose, then ignore what others think about you. Besides, anywhere you are whether in Zimbabwe or any other places you can still be a missionary. Go where God has called you."
I learned that help is needed anywhere, and just because Hawaii is not a third-world country, does not mean we should ignore sharing God's love within the United States. So, here I am, in Hilo, Hawaii for who am I to disregard God's plan for me?
My Testimony
I had every doubt come to mind when I officially decided to be a student missionary. "Am I good enough?", "What if I mess up?", "I have no experience in teaching.", "Do I really have a purpose?", and "What will people think of me?" I still remember the exact day God gave me the answer to the questions I had in mind and the clearest sign I have ever received, which made me stronger in faith.
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On April 2, 2022, I took a Sabbath walk even though it was pretty cold and windy. Thankfully, the sun was out. It was right after a Bible study. I just wanted some time to talk with God because it was such an overwhelming week for me. I walked towards the track field of the school I attend, and sat on a bench. I had my Bible with me, but had no idea what verse I should read. Before opening my Bible, I prayed asking God for clarification. After I prayed, I opened up my Bible and ran my fingers through the pages. Remember when I said it was windy that day? Well, after running my fingers through the page, the wind continued to flip through the pages until it suddenly stopped and landed on the book Jeremiah.
Now, if you don't know, God calls Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations. It is found in the book of Jeremiah Chapter 1. Which was where the wind stopped flipping the pages of my Bible. More specifically, it stopped where I must have highlighted the verse from a long time ago. The verse was, "But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, `I am only a child. ' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD."- Jeremiah 1:7
