My Light on the Road to Damascus
(This article will be published in NEWS FROM THE PEWS this month)
I don’t know how firm a believer you are in epiphany’s or in hearing directions from God as clearly as you hear one from a family member telling you to hurry up in the shower. They are real – think of Jonah, Philip and Paul. Hearing God’s direction for my life was definitely no blinding light on the road to Damascus, but it was no less shocking and important. My road to Damascus was the upstairs bathroom of Dorm Eight at Redeemer University College and the blinding light that gave directions was the clear voice of God over the noise of a blow dryer.
No doubt there have been times in our lives when we have struggled with what we are doing, our desires and Gods plan for us. Often there is a sharp distinction – we know what we are doing, we have our own plans and we have no idea where God is leading us. Those of us whom God has given the desires of their heart and has living His plan for them are extremely blessed. I knew at the age of twenty that Gods plan for me was to be in a Christian university preparing to live life in todays society through a Biblical worldview. However as my second year drew to a close I found myself still desiring things that I didn’t have, and wondering about what Gods plan was for my life after I graduated. Now was the time to choose a major and work toward a career.
The idea of teaching was in the back of my mind, partly because I thought I might like it, and party because certain people ingrained it into my head that I would be a good teacher. I reflected on that career for a while. I looked back at the years I spent teaching Sunday school, doing children’s messages, teaching Bible School and working at camp. I realized that I did like teaching, I liked working with kids and I knew that for an amateur I was fairly decent at leading children and teaching them. Excellent – one problem solved, I would try to be a teacher.
But what about the desires of my heart? Psalm 37 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” My desire had been the same thing for two years, and for a long time I simply thought it was just a desire. Then a wise woman pointed out to me that perhaps because I had this lingering desire – long after it should have disappeared – perhaps it was not my desire but Gods calling. And so by the end of my second year at university I was confused. I wanted to go back to Eastern Europe and yet I knew God wanted me to be a teacher in a Christian School. How could these two callings work together?
That’s when I had my light on the road to Damascus. Quite clearly a voice in my head said, “What about a missionary school?” And so that is what I have been working towards the last two years, a teaching certificate with the intention of serving Gods children in an Eastern European mission field. I began applying for jobs through the Association of Christian Schools International and in April I was hired to teach grade five/six at Bucharest Christian Academy in Romania. BCA provides Christ-centered education and extra-curricular activities to three main groups of children: children of missionaries, children of expatriates living in Romania and Christian children from the surrounding community who can speak English.
I hope that while I am teaching overseas you will keep me in your thoughts and pray for me, the school, the students and fellow staff members. Leaving my life here in Canada will be difficult but I am up for the challenge and looking forward to it. At this time I also need to take the opportunity to explain that my position at Bucharest Christian Academy is considered a missionary position and I am required to support myself financially. I pray that you will consider supporting me financially (cheques can be made to the Clinton Christian Reformed Church – Nikki Gerrits). It will cost me approximately $250 per week to live in Romania and about $2000 to travel there. It seems like a large lump sum but I am trying to put it in perspective – very few people live off of $1000 a month and if I can find 300 people willing to support me with a (tax-deductible) donation of $50 I will be able to serve in the mission field. Please consider it.
I am very excited about this position! I have been working hard preparing for my class, laminating everything I can, purchasing books and planning my life while living overseas. God has been faithful in providing me with this opportunity and although there are times I worry about different things I know that this is Gods plan for my life and I am excited to go and do it!
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I don’t know how firm a believer you are in epiphany’s or in hearing directions from God as clearly as you hear one from a family member telling you to hurry up in the shower. They are real – think of Jonah, Philip and Paul. Hearing God’s direction for my life was definitely no blinding light on the road to Damascus, but it was no less shocking and important. My road to Damascus was the upstairs bathroom of Dorm Eight at Redeemer University College and the blinding light that gave directions was the clear voice of God over the noise of a blow dryer.
No doubt there have been times in our lives when we have struggled with what we are doing, our desires and Gods plan for us. Often there is a sharp distinction – we know what we are doing, we have our own plans and we have no idea where God is leading us. Those of us whom God has given the desires of their heart and has living His plan for them are extremely blessed. I knew at the age of twenty that Gods plan for me was to be in a Christian university preparing to live life in todays society through a Biblical worldview. However as my second year drew to a close I found myself still desiring things that I didn’t have, and wondering about what Gods plan was for my life after I graduated. Now was the time to choose a major and work toward a career.
The idea of teaching was in the back of my mind, partly because I thought I might like it, and party because certain people ingrained it into my head that I would be a good teacher. I reflected on that career for a while. I looked back at the years I spent teaching Sunday school, doing children’s messages, teaching Bible School and working at camp. I realized that I did like teaching, I liked working with kids and I knew that for an amateur I was fairly decent at leading children and teaching them. Excellent – one problem solved, I would try to be a teacher.
But what about the desires of my heart? Psalm 37 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” My desire had been the same thing for two years, and for a long time I simply thought it was just a desire. Then a wise woman pointed out to me that perhaps because I had this lingering desire – long after it should have disappeared – perhaps it was not my desire but Gods calling. And so by the end of my second year at university I was confused. I wanted to go back to Eastern Europe and yet I knew God wanted me to be a teacher in a Christian School. How could these two callings work together?
That’s when I had my light on the road to Damascus. Quite clearly a voice in my head said, “What about a missionary school?” And so that is what I have been working towards the last two years, a teaching certificate with the intention of serving Gods children in an Eastern European mission field. I began applying for jobs through the Association of Christian Schools International and in April I was hired to teach grade five/six at Bucharest Christian Academy in Romania. BCA provides Christ-centered education and extra-curricular activities to three main groups of children: children of missionaries, children of expatriates living in Romania and Christian children from the surrounding community who can speak English.
I hope that while I am teaching overseas you will keep me in your thoughts and pray for me, the school, the students and fellow staff members. Leaving my life here in Canada will be difficult but I am up for the challenge and looking forward to it. At this time I also need to take the opportunity to explain that my position at Bucharest Christian Academy is considered a missionary position and I am required to support myself financially. I pray that you will consider supporting me financially (cheques can be made to the Clinton Christian Reformed Church – Nikki Gerrits). It will cost me approximately $250 per week to live in Romania and about $2000 to travel there. It seems like a large lump sum but I am trying to put it in perspective – very few people live off of $1000 a month and if I can find 300 people willing to support me with a (tax-deductible) donation of $50 I will be able to serve in the mission field. Please consider it.
I am very excited about this position! I have been working hard preparing for my class, laminating everything I can, purchasing books and planning my life while living overseas. God has been faithful in providing me with this opportunity and although there are times I worry about different things I know that this is Gods plan for my life and I am excited to go and do it!
