Puzzle Pieces

    I had to write a journal entry for my career planning class this week. I haven't gone back through and edited it for clarity,  or filled in any extra inspiring details or anything. I just loved writing out my thoughts and dreams. I thought I would share this here since it really is just a view of what has been going on in  my thoughts lately. I don't know how it ended up being nearly 1,000 words! I have so much more to say. 

    A few years ago, I began to realize that God seemed to be pulling my life experiences together like puzzle pieces, showing me which directions to head, and helping me figure out what I am interested in, where my heart is.

    On a Monday in January of 2015 I had the opportunity to volunteer at a local Church and help run a day camp for the Children of the World Choir. The previous evening, Sunday, I had the chance to watch the children perform. Partway through their performance, we were shown a video of a little girl, Esther, who was from Africa. The video showed the lengths that she and her family had to go through to get clean water in their village. As we worked camp on Monday, my heart was filled with joy to watch kids from all different countries interact together, just playing and having the chance to be kids. However, my heart was touched the most by Esther. She was the most joyful little girl, hugging everyone and smiling nonstop. I realized that if she could be joyful despite growing up in such hard circumstances, then I could too. That was one of the puzzle pieces.

    I graduated high school in 2016 with no idea what choices to make as far as college or a career. All I really knew at that point was that I needed to go to Nicaragua. I planned and saved for that trip for over a year and a half. Meanwhile, I was given the opportunity to study water treatment online. I was intrigued, and I loved it. Another puzzle piece. 

    In December of 2017 I finally traveled to Nicaragua as a missionary and had the chance to meet people in the community of Masatepe. I was welcomed by neighbors, invited into their homes, and loved as a dear friend. I saw firsthand the need for Christ, and as I saw that, I also saw the need for clean water. I met a sweet little boy named Eddie who was dreadfully malnourished. We played soccer, he smiled and laughed like any other child, then his family showed us their water. The first glimpse I had of the lagoon was amazing. We walked down a narrow path, and through a shaded opening in the trees I saw a lovely view of the water, encircled with flowers blooming up above. Then I looked down. Scattered along the shore were all types of garbage. My team member next to me softly said, "Heather, the sewage is emptied into this lagoon." Then we turned around and saw their roughly built well, and knew it was just deep enough to hit the level of the lagoon. My heart broke for this dear family, for Eddie. We bought 3 55 gallon plastic drums, attached a filter, and gave them to three different communities, one including Eddie's family. We showed them how to use and clean the filter, tasted the water, and shared a bible with them and told them about Christ. This was another part of the puzzle.

    I came home from Nicaragua encouraged to pursue more opportunities to study water resources. I found a course in North Carolina on water pump repair and took that course in August of 2018. It was there that I finally narrowed down what I wanted to study, realized what I was passionate about, and found my determination to attend college. 

    My dream is to be able to travel the world learning about people and the differences in various cultures. I would love to travel with my family, moving from one place to the next at our own pace, and sharing Christ's love with people we meet. I would like to continue my education here in the states first, focusing on studying Hydrogeology and learning about water resources. I would like to get certified to teach WASH programs, I would like to learn how to drill wells and study more fully how to repair wells. My main career goal, however, would be to learn about types of water resources so that I could go into a community, learn about the needs and the resources available, and know best how to improve them. I would like to be able to teach people how to use their resources, how to maintain their wells and equipment, the importance of clean water, and network with others to make sure that each community would be able to maintain clean water resources long term. And alongside this process, as we are working to satisfy their earthly needs, I will have the chance to meet people where they are, to become their friend and neighbor and share Christ with them. 

    I am now working towards pursuing this goal. My plans are rather fluid, as I know that God's plans are even greater, and there are many, many things that can cause all of this to change. However, I have a goal. I have a plan, and I have motivation. All those little puzzle piece, the children, Ester and Eddie, have helped me see where my heart lies. After waiting nearly 3 years to start college, I'm now studying Engineering Technology. I need an Engineering degree if I decide that I want to get into a Hydrogeology masters program. I don't know where I will go yet to do that, or even if I will do that, but I am very excited to just see what each day holds as I pursue these goals.