Ruth Elliott

"I will never be a missionary", I said when I was fifteen years old. God had other plans for me even before I accepted Him as my saviour when I was four years old. Perhaps part of God's plan was my being a missionary kid as I went to live in Spain with my parents when I was seven. Being a missionary kid was hard for a seven year old as I missed my grandparents and cousins.

It was when my family and I went back to Spain in 1996 after being in Canada for three years that I really struggled. I was lonely having to leave my friends and family in Canada once again. This is when I said that I would never be a missionary. I became bitter and angry toward God and towards my parents for being missionaries.

When I was seventeen I moved back to Canada to live with one of my closest friends and her family while I finished high school. It wasn't until I attended Acquire the Fire (a youth conference weekend) that I realized I had to overcome my bitterness. God spoke to my heart, helping me to see clearly that my parents were obeying his call in their lives to be missionaries. It was at this conference that I rededicated my life to God and confessed my sin. God then began to plant in my heart a desire to serve him.

Since that time I've gone to Bible College for a year and been involved with various ministries. I went on a mission's trip with GRN to Mexico where I continued to feel God slowly pressing on my heart the desire to be involved in missions.

September 2007 I went for 3 months to work in the Australian GRN office. During that time God gave me such a vision for the work that Global Recordings Network accomplishes, that I decided to join GRN as staff for a long term commitment. In February 2008 I became a staff member and immediately start raising my support team with the intention of returning to work in the Australian office there.

September 2009 I was finally able to return to Australia. After several delays, God provided a one year visa. Although God only provided a visa for one year, I knew He must have other plans for me after that. God has clearly closed the door on returning to Australia but He has also opened the door for me to join the USA GRN team in California.

Presently I am trusting in the Lord to raise my support once again.