New Age to New Me

I just want to go back in time a bit. To last summer, where I was lost. I was coming on board to a mission trip where I wasn’t even sure if I truly believed in the LORD or not. With a group of people that I didn’t really know. Like what an odd situation. I was full of anxiety, sadness and dealing with depression that I didn’t really express to others. I hated my job, working long hours that seemed like they were never ending. Dealing with customers who could careless about being respectful and coworkers who complained about every detail in their lives. Which didn’t make anything any easier; it was a bit like living with a dark cloud hovering over me.I was beginning to grow distant from the people around me and I definitely was not even attempting to become who God intended for me to be. Looking back at the old me makes me sad but, at the same time I know it was something that I had to go through to get to be where am today. It is also a tool that was a secret blessing. I know how people battling the demons of anxiety and depression feel. I know what they are going through because I’ve felt it. I get where they are at and where they want to be. If only they had the hope that the LORD provides. I want to be that example of getting through the darkness and finding the light! It gives me another reason to want to spread the gospel. God didn’t intend for us to live like that, depressed, angry and anxious. He has so much beauty in store for us if only we followed Him. A lot changed in me and for me last summer. I came to know Him, my God, the great I AM! The one I had been denying and confused about for 19 years of my life. I let Him come in and change me. I allowed His overwhelming, reckless love take control and soften my hardened heart. Last summer I was baptized; I accepted JESUS CHRIST AS MY LORD AND SAVIOR! I felt like a whole new person after being immersed in the water, the old me had died and the new me was ready to present herself to the world. I was so excited ( and still am) to tell everyone about Him. He changed my heart here in ALBANIA the land where my family comes from. The place that my parents left behind over 23 years ago, a place that they used to call home.He let me know that He wanted me to be here. When He calls you cannot hang up. I knew I had to stay but, I was not sure at all how to go about it. Once I figured out the details it was all I could think about. The Lord even made it possible for me to come in the winter just in time for Christmas! I got to learn more about the village I was serving in SHEQERAS! It was incredible to say the least I got to know many more families and the situations that they are facing. As well as getting to know the staff members and becoming friends with them. Fast forward to July of this year I’ve already been serving in the village of Sheqeras for 3 months and in the girls home; I could have never imagined this in my own mind. But the LORD He brought together all my interests and created a place for me. A place where I fit in perfectly ; last year I developed a passion for working with children. Now I’m a part of the children’s ministry here. I developed a love for teaching, even after years of basically just getting by in school. Now I teach English classes at the church every single Sunday afternoon. Then, there was something that I had always had a passion for and the was working with women and girls. Especially if they had gone through traumatic situations, domestic abuse ,etc. due what I had gone through while I was growing up. Now I do, He created a special place where I could serve how He intended for me to. Before I was a Christian I really thought I had it all figured out. I was into new age things and believing that all the power was simply in my hands. Surprise it’s not! The best decision I ever made was giving it all to Him. I am greatly blessed that I am saved and longer a slave to the things of this world but, I am a servant to my God. At this point a year later from non-believer to devoted Christian I can say that I’ve never been happier in my whole life. All I want to do is be a better servant to Him and to the people of Sheqeras. He is so, so good.