Maddy quickly sold everything she owned to be a missionary, but God had other plans

I have been aware of the presence of God from a very early age, but meeting Him as a young adult made the things of the Spirit tangible. The Holy Spirit became an active daily presence as I learned how to follow Jesus.

Soon after becoming a believer, the Lord called me to Africa. Excitedly, I sold everything I owned and told Him I was ready. He told me to buy another car, get back to work, and wait on His timing. I did just that.

Over the years, I did lots of short missions but never to Africa. While on a NewSpring mission trip, a woman on the team told me that the Lord had instructed her to anoint me with oil and to pray. She did, and the message was that now is the time to prepare for Africa.

Know God, listen to Him, and then follow Him.

Upon my return, the Lord told me that He was going to open the door and bring the opportunity right to me. Two weeks later while hosting in a Connect Class, I met a young lady named Alyssa. She had just returned from a long mission in Africa. My heart nearly exploded! Since I met Alyssa, her entire family and best friend moved here to South Carolina. We all became knit together like friends who are family.

God is multifaceted and multi-purposed in all He does. Years after being called to Africa, I am now serving as a missionary in the port city of Pemba, Mozambique!

Know God, listen to Him, and then follow Him. Each of us has a calling and giftings, and we can trust God to do extraordinary things on our behalf. He will enable us to do exactly what He has created us for!