So…why is Emily on the go?

From the time I was very little, I loved to travel. So far in my life, I’ve had the privilege to visit France, the Dominican Republic, Russia, England, Ecuador, and China. Other countries, cultures and languages have always fascinated me and I’ve wanted to live in another country for as long as I can remember. When I think about how amazingly diverse the world is, it blows me away. Ever new place I see just makes me hungry to see more of the world and the wonderful people God has placed in it.

I believe that God has burdened my heart to work with people in the former Soviet Union. I have studied their culture and language and would love to get to know the people of this region of the world better. I enjoy reading to learn about history and culture, but my favorite way to learn about people is talking to them. My mother will testify to the fact that from the time I was very young, I loved to talk to people, and to this day, relationships are one of the most important things in my life. I especially love building relationships with people from other cultures.

So right now I am working towards someday living and working in either Russia or Ukraine on a long-term basis. I am currently in grad school being further trained to teach, both English and the Bible, in a cross-cultural setting. Along with my studies, I have two part-time jobs, church activities, and lots of friends to keep me busy…I’m always on the go! I find that I’m more productive when I’m really busy, so whether I plan it or not, I’m usually super swamped with things to do, places to go, and people to see!

This summer, I am planning to spend 10 weeks in central Ukraine fulfilling the requirements of my internship, learning more about the Ukrainian people and building relationships. I am greatly looking forward to this amazing opportunity. I plan to keep my blog updated with what I am doing—I will be posting stories and pictures, and I hope that you will join me in my trip via my blog!

Here we go, people…we are on a mission!