Liz is preparing to head for south Asia. In some ways, this will a homecoming for her.
‘Funnily enough, I was born in south Asia! My parents were workers there and we stayed until I was seven or eight, when we moved back to the UK. It was a long time ago, but I still remember quite a few images and smells from our time there. I went to India in 2005 and the smell of jackfruit was really familiar; I would have had it in the part of south Asia where I lived. I never thought I’d be going back to work there. I’m excited about it because I love the culture in that part of Asia. And actually, my parents still have friends there. I don’t remember them, but it’ll be exciting to go and meet them.
‘This opportunity has only come up in the past year, but as I’ve gone along, it’s been more and more confirmed that this is the right thing for me. I was actually looking at India to start with, and while I was trying to contact people there, a regional director asked me, “Have you thought about this area instead?” I was intrigued. I started emailing people there and it all seemed to fit. I wouldn’t say I’ve had a dramatic calling, but at each step, it’s been clear that God is in this.
I really feel that God’s broken my heart for vulnerable women
‘I really feel that God’s broken my heart for vulnerable women; women who are marginalised, being trafficked or being kidnapped, for example. And there are many vulnerable women and children in this part of Asia. Women there tend not to be seen as valuable, so they often live in poverty, without access to education and dominated by men. It’s not entirely clear yet what I’ll be doing, but it looks like I’ll be working in one of the main cities, or just outside. There’s a particular project with a community centre, which offers sewing classes, an after-school club for the kids and a few other things. I’ve got a feeling I might be involved with that.
‘I still need to raise financial and prayer support before I can go. I know it will happen in God’s timing, but please pray for that. Pray also for courage, as I say goodbye to loved ones and trust in our heavenly Father. One of the verses that keeps coming back to me is Joshua 1:9: “Be strong and courageous.” So please pray that I’ll be courageous and wise enough to know what I should do.
