When I came back to the states after spending close to three months in Tanzania, Africa in 2010, had you asked me if I would ever go back to Africa, I would probably have said something like, "I'm not really sure, maybe not." When I returned I wasn't sure if I wanted to go back. East Africa is so drastically different from America... life is hard! But over time my heart began to be drawn to Africa again. God did not leave me alone about it. I was experiencing this discontentment that would not be satisfied in anything, and I knew it was coming straight from Him. I could feel it, that He wanted me to return to Africa. But this time, He didn't want me to just go for a little while. I felt God calling me to return to Africa for a year or longer to work with children - specifically, the abandoned and orphaned children - a work I have been particularly burdened about.

Once I couldn't take it any longer I talked with Greg Mann (my mission’s pastor at Trinity) about what I felt God had burdened upon my heart, and how I could begin the process of making it a reality. When I returned home from our meeting, I felt such a surge of pure joy and peace flood over my spirit. I had taken that first step of surrender, and God delighted in that! My prayer to Him was, "Send me, I'll go. Show me where, show me how."

God has proven His faithfulness to me since then in mighty ways. He gave me clarity and direction in where He wanted me to go for this season of my life: Uganda, East Africa. After receiving that confirmation, He also opened an unexpected door: the chance to join a mission team headed for Uganda to work at a children's home for two weeks in September! God's goodness to us is so great! When we demonstrate willingness, He provides and opens wide the doors of opportunity to serve Him.

And so, I am to spend two weeks with this team and the ministry there. Then from there I will travel to spend time with three to four other ministries. I call this my Vision Trip, because I am using it as a catalyst to learn how and where exactly God could use me the most. I'm praying for His vision to become mine, for His direction.

God has used people who are in my life, as well as complete strangers, to encourage me and meet my financial needs for my month and a half long trip. One of the more unique ways He has met my need was using one of the gifts He has given me, photography. I've been doing photography for a while now, including working as the Photo Editor for the yearbook while I attended Trinity Baptist College. But it hasn't been until this last year that I have had so many people interested in me being their photographer. I have photographed four weddings this summer! Through all that God has met my need. He is good.

We truly serve a great God who glories in the unknowns because it is only then that we really can say that we exhibited faith. I've loved watching Him move in the circumstances leading up to my trip, so I know He will only continue to move in my life.

As you read this, I am somewhere in Uganda. I am probably holding onto the hand of a small child. I praise God for His plans for our lives. "And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul." Isaiah 58:11

If you would like to follow Samantha’s Vision Trip through Uganda, you can follow her blog.