I remember well when God nudged me into missions. I was sitting in the balcony of the church I grew up at in Seattle listening to the pastor tell the congregation about an incredible opportunity to help some missionaries that we supported in Papua New Guinea Build some houses in the interior of the island of New Britain. The purpose was to get them established so that they could learn and translate the bible for the Mamusi tribe who were currently unreached by the gospel. My brother-in-law to be leaned over and whispered in my ear that this would be a great opportunity for me. He had recently gotten back from serving in central American and decided that I needed the opportunity as well. I of course said, "whatever dude!" But God had other plans and I could not get the thought of it out of my head. It haunted me until I finally caved in and called the pastor. I guess you can imagine how the story ended. I went there and had an amazing time I was ready to stay but the government had other plans for me and they wouldn't renew my visa. My sister was happy to here that I wasn't staying and that I would be in attendance of her wedding.

That was 1989 and it was my first trip overseas and my first real missions experience. But God had me fully and completely now and off to bible school I went and I graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 1993 short after heading off to Europe to this time help lead my first mission trip. I can't say t hat I had it all together on that first trip and if I had it to do all over again I would try and practice much more humility and service. But even though it wasn't perfect I loved it and I have been leading mission trips ever sense. After working as the High school Director of a Grace Bible Church in California for three years, at which time I started leading trips for AIM, I came of  staff with AIM full time. By now I have had the opportunity to lead more than 40 mission trips and having the privilege to meet some amazing people along the way. I have had the privilege to serve God on 5 continents, ministering in large cities such as Mexico City and Nairobi , Kenya as well as unknown villages like those in the Peruvian Amazon and the interior of Papua New Guinea 's Island of New Britain .

While at AIM I feel blessed to have been able to pursue God's call to both lead and disciple youth and to proclaim the glory of God through missions. While I was the Real Life Mission Coordinator with AIM, I was in charge of mobilizing college students and training the leadership that will take them around the world. After that God called me to follow Him to Kenya . In Kenya I had the privilege of leading AIM's first African base in Nairobi , Kenya .  It was while i was in Kenya that God also sent me a beautiful gift, Lisa! She has her own story up until this point and now God is giving us our story, both in Kenya and beyond.  If you want to hear more about the ministry in Kenya I have included the story at the end of how God Birthed the Kenya base. Now, after Living in Kenya for over 3 years God called Lisa and I Back to  Georgia to help lead and support AIM's overseas staff.  Now as Directors of AIM's Field Staff we once again have to rely on God to help us lead and support the staff that our serving God overseas. After living and ministering in Kenya for the last few years we know how difficult it can be to serve God overseas and it is our privilege and challenge to help our field staff to serve God abroad.

The conception of the

. Through much prayer and questioning the plan was made and I must say it went much like the original plan was laid out. In 2002 I spent three months in country and in 2003 I spend the second half of the year in