| I was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1969, and was adopted when I was six weeks old. My parents took me to Kenya, Africa where they were career missionaries. I was eighteen months old when we went to Kenya and seventeen when we returned to the U.S. permanently. My parents spent many hours impressing the word of the Lord on my heart. At age nine I gave my life to Jesus and was baptized in the Jordan River on a trip to Israel. I thrived in the wild and beautiful environment of Africa. Beryl Markham wrote in her book West With The Night a quote that reflects my feelings. “Africa is mystic; it is wild; it is a sweltering inferno; it is a photographer’s paradise; a hunter’s Valhalla, an escapist’s Utopia. It is what you will, and it with stands all interpretations. It is the last vestige of a dead world or the cradle of a shiny new one. To a lot of people, as to myself, it is just home.” Two events happened almost simultaneously, at age nine, which created a gulf in my life. First I was saved and committed my life to Jesus. Then I was sent away from home to attend a British boarding school. The feelings of desertion and grief that I felt at boarding school did not fit in with my image of God and I began to rebel. This event led to many years of anger, resentment and rebellion. I was slowly drawn more and more into devious behavior. My use of alcohol, tobacco, and defiant behavior escalated to the point that my father decided to bring me home to the U.S. In 1986 we returned to the States permanently. I finished High School in Dallas, but my behavior and outlook on life did not improve. I began attending college after graduating High School. I knew that God had a great plan for my life but I was in bondage to my immoral lifestyle. In addition, my inability to adjust to life in the States hindered my relationships and my ability to function. I soon dropped out of college and bounced from job to job for several years. At the age of twenty-one, I realized I would never feel complete without God at the center of my life. I re-committed my life to Jesus. Shortly after rededicating my life I began to attend Dallas Baptist University. I felt God leading me to work with missionary kids (MK‘s). At DBU I majored in Sociology with a specialization in reaculturation of MK‘s. During this time I began to attend a Bible study and it was there that I met Paul, my husband. We slowly became friends and eventually began dating. We were married in February of 1996. Paul and I were drawn together by a mutual call to ministry. God brought Paul and I together from opposite ends of the earth to form a team that will serve Him. In November of 1997, our twin daughters Kayelyn and Maddyson were born. During this time God began to turn my heart to Missionary families. I began to work on a program that would help unify families on the field, help disciple MK’s and ultimately help with reaculturation. I have named this program Helping MK’s Thrive. In May of 1999, we went on staff with The Navigators, Collegiate Ministry. Our third daughter Allyson was born in April of 2000. I feel that my first calling is to my family. I desire to be a Proverbs 31 and a Titus 2 woman. I am interested in pursing a seminary degree in Christian Education to fulfill my calling to family and ministry. Since before our marriage Paul and I both felt called to International Missions. Over the last five years we have prayed for an opportunity to serve God Internationally. Paul and I are currently in the application process with the IMB. We feel that a seminary education is an important part of our preparation for full-time ministry. |
| Testimony of Aprile Hyder |
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