An Open Door to Serve

Over the last year and a half, the desire that burns in my heart now is as real as it was 52 years ago when I was saved. When others have asked me where I wanted to serve, my response has always been wherever he wants me to go, I will go. You see, God has given me the gifts and abilities that I have, and He is the one who knows where the gifts can be best used the most for His glory, not me. 

Others say, you don’t have to go overseas to serve God. You can serve Him right where you are. I serve in my local church, and yes, I could do the same ministry here, but God wants me to go where He wants me to be. My life is not my own, it belongs to God, not me.  Others say, “You are too old to be going halfway around the world”.  This may be true to those who only wear the glasses of worldly logic, but to one who looks at life through the glasses of spiritual understanding, one is never too old to serve God where He calls you.

In God’s province, March 2023 I meet this woman who was on fire for God at a missionary medical intensive course. Her testimony of how God led her & her husband shortly after marriage from Kiev, Ukraine to Papua New Guinea to live among the people and preach Christ crucified is one which spoke to my heart.  Her testimony and story are the most refreshing story I have heard in a very long time. You can read about the journey of Jenya and Ira Konstantinik from Ukraine to Papua New Guinea, in her book Dreams Come True if you believe, to get an in-depth glimpse of her love for the Lord. The book can be ordered from Amazon and the proceeds go to Promise Land.

Her love for the Lord is contagious.  It’s like you want to bottle up all the excitement & energy she has for the Lord and take it home with you. But, when it comes right down to it, it is God’s Word and the sweet Holy Spirt that is available to all of us if we walk in His precepts.

You see, by profession, I am a nurse, but also a teacher. I always thought God would use me as a missionary nurse, so I went to the course where I met Ira to refresh my skills.  It was here God began my journey of seeing the desire He had placed in me come to fruition.  Only, it wasn’t to be a missionary nurse, although, I could certainly perform in that role; but rather use the gifting He has given to me in sharing the love of God using His word, to teach others to read and write.  

Over the last year and a half, Ira and I have kept in contact via Facebook and social media. Yes, God can use them for His purpose.  She began sharing with me the desire to reopen the adult literacy course that closed in 2020 due to lack of teachers and provide tutoring for some of the girls she has been discipling.  My heart strings began pulling me toward the place God wanted me to serve.  

I have the blessings of my church to follow God’s leading but due to their policies, they do not send individuals only ones going under a mission board. Due to life and my age, I am not able to be sent by a mission agency; therefore, God has provided a godly pastor to provide moral and spiritual accountability while I am on the field.

I covet your prayers,                                                         

Sharon Douglas