Welcome

Hi and welcome to my blog. I figure I will start out with a few words about how I got here.

Growing up, my idea of missions and missionaries were those "kooky" guys in safari outfits who would come to your church with slide film projectors that never really worked right and stories of bush people and natives in the jungles of Africa. As I got older, my image never changed. Perhaps because of the tiny little churches I attended, or perhaps because of the naivity of having never met anyone from anywhere else and having never been anywhere else. Such a small world view I had. But then one day I started attending a new church, a missions minded church, a very big church. I took a job there and next thing I know I was to take my first airplane flight, not a short flight, but an eight hour flight to Copenhagen, Denmark. I was terrified. What would I experience? What would it be like? Would the plane have turbulence, would I be afraid the whole time? What about people. What would they be like?

The most amazing thing happened. It was like my eyes were opened to a whole new world - literally. Did you know that people on the other side of the world are just like you and me? They have the same feelings, desires, hopes. They simply speak a different language and perhaps eat foods with funny sounding names. We spent a week renovating a 5 story building into what they called "Community Center" so it wouldn't be shot down as a Christian Center. The building would house a radio station, a kindergarden, a church auditorium, a coffee shop, some offices, and so much more. It was amazing! I learned so much. I even learned that I have skills I never knew I had. I could paint, stucco, build inner walls and install inner windows into those walls. I could install a drop ceiling. I could even eat crazy food with funny names.

When we came home, I was transformed. My eyes were opened and I started catching the "fever." Missions fever. We had helped those people and I was the better for it. It was a mutual thing. The blessing poured out both ways. Wow! The next time there would be an offer to go somewhere on a missions trip, I would be way more willing to go.

That is how it all started. And just like with any addiction, if you don't get your "fix" you go through a period of withdrawal. I couldn't be away from the mission field for more than two years at a time, or I would get these crazy feelings of withdrawal. Even if it meant a mission here in the states. I had to go, I had to do SOMETHING.

And to this day, I have to do something. So, my name is Debbi Everly, and I am a missions junkie. My last "fix" was October of 2009 when I helped some friends from Slovakia during their month long stay in the US. Do I plan to go somewhere soon, absolutely. Do I think I'll ever give up the fever....Never! Not till Jesus takes me home. Stay tuned to future posts for stories of where I've been and what has happened. With at least 10 countries I've spent at least one night in, and over 2 years of accumulated time on the mission field, the stories will just keep coming. Until next time, remember the Great Commission commanded us from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: "...Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you..." Matthew 28:18-20 NIV