By Staff
Tracy B. Cieniewicz, Hartselle Enquirer
Emily Miller Moore knew when she graduated from Hartselle High School in 1999 she wanted to work as a nurse, but she had no idea what else God had in store for her.
Moore, 23, graduated May 14 from Wesley College, a Bible-based college in Florence, Miss., with a bachelor's degree in missions. She is the daughter of Lisa Vasser of Hartselle.
Since her first international mission trip as a teenager with First Independent Methodist Church in Flint, Moore has traveled to places such as Ecuador, Jamaica and New Mexico to do mission work.
Most recently, she spent six weeks in Belize as a fulfillment to her graduation requirements. Moore returned to Belize three days after her graduation to revisit the experience for one week.
"My mission trip to Belize was an awesome and eye-opening experience," Moore said. "I had many new experiences, but the one my family was most surprised about was that I killed and cleaned a chicken for a meal. I thought it was an opportunity I might never have again."
Moore said her aspirations of being a nurse are still a reality.
She plans to attend Mississippi College for her bachelor's degree in nursing and later pursue a master's degree to become a nurse practitioner.
"I want to work with medical missions," Moore explained. "I knew when I graduated from high school that I wanted to work as a nurse. I asked God what he wanted me to do, and I felt like he was saying 'missions' every time I prayed. I finally said, 'I'm tired of fighting you, I'll do whatever you want me to do.' Now I know that's what I was created for. It's awesome how God gives you a love for what he wants you to do. He won't give you something you don't enjoy."
Moore and her husband Ryan, 24, met at Wesley College and have been married for three years. Ryan is majoring in computer science programming in hopes of doing mission work with his wife.
"Many of the mission areas need computer programmers to broadcast their radio ministries," Moore said. "We feel in our hearts that we're going somewhere we can work together."
Lisa's mother said she is constantly amazed by her daughter's drive and ambition to do good works for the Lord.
"I can't tell you how proud I am of my daughter," Vasser said. "She's never without a smile and she absolutely loves what she does. She has never found a problem she and the Lord can't handle, and she's been that way since she was a child."