I had a dream, a dream like I have never had before or since. I saw brown, smiling, joyous faces and then a flash to a group of people crowded around a map of the Four Corners area of the United States. Upon awakening, I felt that this was something important and was just a glimpse of the story that was being written for me.

That dream lay dormant for many years. In those years, however, God was preparing me and my heart for missions. The idea of missions and leaving home, at that time, was terrifying for me being the family oriented, shy girl that I was. I was comfortable and safe. However, in 2005 after a presentation at my church about a missions trip to Honduras, I felt a big tug on my heart that I was supposed to go. I was afraid, but I knew I had to be obedient to the Lord and pursue this trip.

God showed Himself so faithful, trustworthy and a great provider throughout the whole process of this trip. I even was lead to go back the next year. God used these two trips to stir up in me a heart for missions, for people and to show me that I didn’t have to be afraid when I trusted Him with everything.

Fast forward to 2007, the Lord started to awaken me to that dream from over six years before. I was drawn to start looking into a possible ministry with Native Americans. An opportunity came up at my church to go to a Native American reservation up in Crandon, WI in beginning of 2008. After visiting, I realized this wasn’t the place I was supposed to be but while up there I was given a website that had many different Native American ministries on it.

So as I looked at this website, I came across a place called The Four Corners Home for Children in Farmington, New Mexico. This ministry was right in the Four Corners region of the U.S. and I was reminded of my dream. When I visited The Four Corners Home for Children’ website and browsed to the employment section, I came across the exact job position opening that I was looking for.

In June on 2008, I was headed to New Mexico for a visit and interview. I had never really been too far past the Mississippi River before. So when I arrived in Farmington, I thought I landed on another planet with the rolling bluffs in the distance, brown sand and even tumble weeds skirting across the road.

When I got back to Ohio, it was settled in me that God wanted me at The Four Corners Home for Children and New Mexico was going to be my new home. It was hard, though, when I thought about moving 1,600 miles away leaving everything that was familiar and comfortable. I knew, on the other hand, that I had to be obedient to the Lord’s plan and His call no matter what I had to leave behind. I had learned in the past couple of years that He is a good Father and knows what’s best for His children even though it can be painful and hard at times. I could trust Him with my life. I knew my life was not my own, it had been bought with a price and it was His to spend as He saw fit. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

I ended up not being able to move out to New Mexico until October 2008. In that time of waiting, though, God stirred in me such a desire to be out west, and excitement to be with the Navajo people, that it was physically painful to not be out there yet. So when the time did come to move it wasn’t as hard to leave.

Since being here at the ministry the past nine years, I have seen the Lord work and provide in so many miraculous ways in my life and in the lives of those around me. I have fallen in love with the west, the Navajo people and this is now home for me. Recently, though, God has brought certain people and events into my life, to where there may be some big changes coming in this next year. I can rest assured that God is still writing my story and I can trust Him. Even though change, whether good or bad, can be hard for me, I can face these changes with confident, hopeful trust in the Lord. I can now view these changes with excitement instead of fear.

Just remember God is writing His own story for your life, and to not be afraid, but to trust Him. He always has His best in mind for you. “He is the author and finisher of our faith …” (Hebrews 12:2a). “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). “And we know that ALL things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes by Corrie ten Boom “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” So you can trust the Lord with His story for your life.

Trusting Him,

Hannah Rodden