Introducing….Me

So…I’m thinking it’s about that time I post a blog. I should be a pro at this by now because I’ve been keeping a blog for years now on my Xanga and my MySpace(well not YEARS on myspace…but maybe a year or so) but I had some roadblocks getting on this one. I guess it’s just one of those days, but I’m up and going now.

 

That said, let’s get to the point. I’ll try to be brief but that’s definitely a challenge. I like to talk. First, my name is Victoria Rosa, I’m 22 years old and I blessed you with my presence on January 29, 1985. I’m really excited to be spending my 23^rd birthday in India. I don’t think anyone from AIM really knows that yet, but all of my family and friends have not stopped reminding me how I’m not going to be here. I think I’m the only person excited about that factor and I’m okay with that.

 

I was born and raised in Good Shepherd Christian Church in Bridgeport, CT. Although I was brought up in church, I can’t say that I’ve always been a strong Christian. No matter what, there comes a point when you have to decide salvation for yourself and I guess there were some points in my life when I decided I wanted to do my own thing instead, but I can honestly say I never made it too far. God’s love for me is so strong, he never allowed me to get too far from him and I’m thankful for that.

 

I decided to go on a missionary trip because it has been something I’ve always wanted to do. Cliché I know, but it’s true. It has been a desire in my heart since I was a little girl. I personally have a desire for Spanish Speaking countries. I decided to go on my hunt for a missionary trip before I even graduated college. I found Adventures in Missions and really fell in love with the program because it was the one that fell in line the best with my beliefs…very fundamentalists and I liked that. So I began my search and even began to apply for a few trip they had way back when (I think around December of 2006). I graduated in Dec. 2006 from UConn, a semester early, so I wanted to go on an adventure. As you have it, there were many factors that kept me going on a trip back then. The biggest factor I would say was fear. I looked into the drama ministry 13^th floor and applied for that too, but for some reason things weren’t coming together for me at that time. I just wasn’t ready yet. The time was not right. That’s all I can conclude.

 

So as I went into the working field, because that’s what everyone is “supposed” to do when they graduated from college, I found myself more and more miserable. It wasn’t that I didn’t have a good life. I had a new car, money, friends, a great church, wonderful family—what more could I ask for? It just wasn’t enough. I was so empty. I would find myself hanging out in my spare time looking on the AIM website imagining which trip I could go on. I finally came to a point where I realized that I needed to start saving up money for a missionary trip and start the process of going on one. My feelings about this were confirmed in different ways, through people who knew me and some who didn’t; through God’s Word and through myself. I can only say that God has a purpose for each and everyone of us and until we actually fulfill that purpose and calling, we are never truly satisfied. We merely exist; we are not truly living.

 

I applied and was initially accepted to the Nicaragua Trip for Jan. 21 – April 21 of 2008. It was something I felt so strongly about. FINALLY…I was able to pursue this calling I felt tugging at my heart for so long. Unfortunately, I got some news that this trip had been cancelled around Thanksgiving time, and I was really down about this. I even cried. I had already sent out support letters, got shots and had some support coming in. My mind was boggled on what to do. I had a few options on my plate and ultimately, I chose to go with the India trip instead. I can’t say exactly why my trip was canceled. I don’t know the “ins and outs,” like God does of course, but I believe it was for something bigger and better. Perhaps I was limiting myself by going to a place too familiar to me. I mean after all, I would know the Spanish language—that is a huge advantage right there. But I think God has a great adventure planned for me; something that seems daring and unexpected. Maybe that’s what I need instead…who knows?

 

I sent out a new letter explaining the change in my trip and went full speed ahead with this trip. I have done a few fundraisers so far. I did a bake sale, where I sold cookies that I made during the intermission of our church play. I got my mother to help me out, which was a great factor and tons of my friends donated stuff too. That was really helpful. I can’t say how much it means to me to see all of these people helping me out. It’s like God always puts people there in your path to support you. I guess that’s what church family is about in the first place, a means of support. I still have a lot of people on my list who haven’t sent in their support yet but I believe once this crazy Holiday rush is over I’m going to get a nice response. Ultimately, I have money saved up and I have some donations coming from my church that should help me get to my goal. I’m trying not to worry or stress too much about it because as Christians we need to have faith and I know God will supply all of my needs. I have done that which is possible and he will do the impossible.

 

I made a list of things that should go into luggage #1 and luggage #2. I have them posted up in my room and I am slowly (but surely) getting all of the necessities in there little by little. Everything else is done: all my paperwork is in, I got my shots, got my visa/passport, airline tickets and I got my journey notebook. Now all I need is the rest of my funds with a dose or prayer and fasting and I should be good to go. There are a few things I need to do like visit goodwill and Salvation Army for training camp gear and then some things like mosquito netting, etc. but I should be golden.

 

So all I can ask for is that you pray I start getting all the support I need between now and Jan. 14^th (which is right around the corner…literally!), and pray that God’s will  be done. What more can we ask for than being in God’s will? So I’ll end with that thought: A lot of our parents are scared about letting us go into the “wild.” I think it’s easy for some of our folks to see other people’s children become missionaries and such, but it’s a different story when their own are called out there. They are scared for our safety and well-being, which is normal. My mother had a tough time when I was presenting this trip to her. I think she didn’t realize how much it meant to me until she saw me ball my eyes out when I found out the Nicaragua trip was canceled. Anyway, the greatest advice my Pastor gave me was this: “There is no safer place to be than in God’s will.” I think when I heard her say that to me, there was no turning back. I was scared about my parents’ reaction to this journey, but those words resounded in my mind so strong that nothing anyone said would make me turn back. We can be in the middle of a war, surrounded by our enemies, death starring us right in the eye—but if we are in God’s will, then we are safe. I believe God is going to take care of us and we are going to be in the safest of places in New Delhi, India; ministering to those who are in need and those who are hungry and thirsty for God’s Word and love.

 

 My family:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Friends:

 

 

 

Me: