Following God’s Call All the Way to Thailand

When I moved away to attend Auburn University, my faith stopped being something that was gently supported by my family and became something I had to choose for myself. My mom was no longer there to ask if I was getting ready for church or to make sure I was awake on Sunday mornings. For the first time, my relationship with the Lord depended entirely on whether I would pursue Him.

During my time in college, I found a community through Auburn Christian Fellowship that helped me understand that God desires a personal, wholehearted relationship with His people. It was in this space that my faith truly became my own. I learned that following Jesus was not about checking boxes but about surrender—laying down my own plans and trusting that His were better. At the time, I had no intention of working in campus ministry. My plan was simple: graduate, start my career, and begin a family. But as the Lord gently reshaped my heart, I stayed at Auburn and joined ACF staff, where He continued to deepen my faith and grow my love for students.

In 2023, during my second year on staff, a student asked me to read through the book of Acts with her. It was a book I had never intentionally studied on my own, and I had no idea how significantly it would impact my life. As we read Acts together, I felt a growing sense that my time in Auburn was coming to an end. Nothing dramatic had happened—I simply sensed that the Lord was preparing me for something new.

Jesus’ command in Acts 1, to make His name known among all nations, weighed heavily on my heart. I became deeply aware that while I freely worship in the United States, there are people around the world who have never heard the name of Jesus or who risk their lives to follow Him. That realization changed me. It changed how I prayed, how I worshiped, and how I viewed obedience. In that season, I told the Lord that I would say “yes” to whatever He asked of me, even if I didn’t yet understand what that would mean.

That “yes” led me into a long season of discernment. I knew I was being called to leave Auburn, but I did not know where I was going. I explored different ministry opportunities, considered moving home, and even thought about pursuing graduate school. While I loved ministry, I sensed that staying somewhere simply because it was comfortable or familiar would be disobedient.

One of the biggest obstacles in this process was my own pride. Many of my close friends had joined Globalscope, and I resisted the idea of doing the same—not because I doubted the work, but because I did not want to follow in their footsteps. That resistance did not last long. After visiting a Globalscope location in Birmingham, UK, the Lord humbled me deeply. I saw how He was moving among students and realized that my hesitation had far more to do with my own control than with His calling.

After that experience, I began conversations about officially joining Globalscope. While my heart initially leaned toward serving in the UK, I was encouraged to consider Thailand because of my growing burden for unreached people. I was hesitant, but after speaking with the team in Thailand, I was struck by the spiritual hunger of the students there—students who were curious about Jesus, asking questions, and often hearing the gospel for the very first time.

For months, I wrestled with the tension between familiarity and obedience. I wanted what felt comfortable, but I knew the Lord was inviting me into something deeper. It took prayer, honest conversations with mentors, and one simple question—Where is your heart?—for me to finally let go. When I admitted that my heart was with the people of Thailand, a weight lifted off my shoulders. Saying yes felt like losing a battle, but it was one the Lord had already won.

Today, serving in Bangkok is not the result of careful planning but of surrender. The Lord patiently taught me that His plans are far greater than my own, and that obedience—even when it leads somewhere unfamiliar—is always worth it.

Since arriving in Thailand, I have been completely in awe of God’s people here. The kindness I have experienced has been overwhelming. Even with language barriers at times, people are eager to help in any way they can. I have been continuing to learn Thai, and while that is still a work in progress, I have been thankful that many people speak English, making communication easier as I adjust.

Before arriving, I was most nervous about the cultural differences, especially coming from the Southern United States. While the culture here is very different, the transition has gone far more smoothly than I expected. One of the first things I learned is that rice is served at nearly every meal—without rice, it’s not considered a complete meal! Because of that, I’ve been eating a lot of rice and learning how to cook it properly, which has quickly become part of my daily routine.

The students have been incredibly welcoming and kind. They have taken me out to explore the city, try new foods, and practice Thai with them. Through these moments, I have begun to see the rhythms of daily life in Bangkok—days filled with language learning and observing the culture, and evenings spent building relationships with students. I often spend my mornings watching Thai videos and practicing the language, then my evenings laughing, learning, and simply being present with students.

As I continue to settle in, I’m constantly reminded of God’s goodness through the people here and the small, everyday moments. Bangkok already feels like a place where the Lord is teaching me to slow down, listen, and love well.

Stepping into ministry here in Thailand makes me excited to share my life with the students and to join a community that values authentic relationships and long-term presence. Through building genuine relationships, I have found that students naturally become curious about what seems different, and I am able to answer truthfully and openly that I am living my life for Christ. In these everyday moments, the Lord has graciously opened doors for me to speak life into students’ lives as they ask questions and share their own stories.

What excites me most is the opportunity to walk alongside students as they explore who Jesus is—often for the first time—and to model what a real, daily relationship with Christ looks like. I am also excited to grow in my dependence on the Lord as I live fully on my own for the first time, learning from the students and allowing them to teach me about their lives, culture, and faith. Learning how to live intentionally and purposefully here in Thailand has been both joyful and refining.