A Good Note to Start on

Dear Readers,

During my freshman year in high school my dad asked me to pray about the possibility of going to Argentina to serve for a year on the mission field, after I graduated high school. When he first talked to me about it, I thought he was crazy. Why would anyone give up the comforts of home to go to a foreign country their first year after high school? There are a lot of things that I wanted to do: go to college, get a degree in nursing or teaching, and stay in the states! My life was headed in that direction as far as I was concerned, but God had other plans.

God continually laid the desire on my heart to go to Argentina, and so I began to pray about it. The Lord broke me in a lot of ways during high school to begin preparing me for this journey, but it wasn’t until I read Philippians during my quiet time in my Junior year that I was sure that Argentina was the direction that I should head. It was then that I knew that if I wasn’t willing to take up my cross and follow him, even possibly suffering for his sake, then I was not worthy of His gospel. How could I do anything but go where he leads? So I surrendered, and now I am trusting that the Lord will use me for His glory! At this point I cannot imagine going anywhere but Argentina. It’s crazy how God sometimes completely changes our desires as we delight ourselves in Him.

I will be going to PBB (Programa Biblico Billingua, or, Bilingual Bible Program) Word of Life, Argentina this September and will be there for a year. PBB is a seminary in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Each student is immersed in the culture and language, learning to speak and share the gospel in Spanish fluently. Each Tuesday through Friday, I will attend Bible and Spanish classes, and Saturday through Monday I will spend doing mission work in the surrounding area and churches. January through February we will host a children’s camp and I will have the opportunity to share the Lord with a lot of the children there. People from all over the world come to this seminary for training, and this will allow me to learn of ministries and areas of need throughout the world. I am continuing to pray about what God would have me do long term with my life. I am praying that He will use this experience to confirm the direction that He has for me and use it deeply in my life for His glory. Through much prayer I feel confident that this is the direction the Lord would have me to go, and I am excited to follow Him as He leads.

I am thankful for you and appreciate the investment you have made in my life. I want to ask you for your prayer support as I go to Argentina. Here are some specific prayer requests that I have: the hardships of living in a different culture, being away from family and friends, the challenge of learning a different language, advancing the gospel, financial provision, good health, and that I would grow in my relationship with Christ. I greatly covet your prayers and I am very excited and thankful for this opportunity and for your partnership in supporting me as I go.

Para Gloria de Dios, (For the Glory of God)

Kelly Hooker