Jenny never planned to move to Chile from the United States. When she graduated from Andrews University, she volunteered to teach English there for a year. She thought she would return to the United States at the end of the year. But five years later, she found herself teaching Bible classes at Chile Adventist University.

Here is what happened.

Jenny had wanted to become a missionary ever since she was a young girl.

While completing undergraduate theology studies at Andrews University in Michigan, she spoke about her desire with one of her teachers. The teacher had helped another student go to Chile for a year with Adventist Volunteer Service and suggested that Jenny consider a similar path.

Jenny liked the idea. After graduating from the university, she visited the Adventist Volunteer Service website. She saw an opening in Chile and sent her resume. Before long, she was accepted and went to Chile to spend a year teaching English at a center of influence.

The year passed in a flurry of English classes, Bible studies, and friendships. Jenny was invited to stay a second year, and she agreed. By the end of the second year, she could speak fluent Spanish, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Central Chile Mission was looking for a bilingual assistant. She was offered the position as a volunteer. Jenny agreed, and, for the next three years, managed church membership records, trained church secretaries, and served as the local leader for Adventist Volunteer Service—the very organization for which she was volunteering.

Along the way, she also got married to a Chilean.

Then, Chile Adventist University called, asking if she would be willing to teach Bible classes. Jenny was excited to return to her roots after majoring in theology at Andrews University. When she became a legal resident of Chile, she transitioned to a Bible teacher at the university. For the first time in five years, she wasn’t part of Adventist Volunteer Service but a full-time university employee.

Today, Jenny is one of five Bible teachers at the university. She and the other teachers teach general Bible classes that are required of all students but theology students, who have their own classes. Many of Jenny’s students learn about God and the Bible for the first time in her classes. About three-fourths of the university’s 3,000 students come from non-Adventist families.

Jenny, who is 28 years old, couldn’t be happier. Being a missionary with Adventist Volunteer Service opened the door to a career she had never dreamed possible.

“I meant to come to Chile for one year, and now it has been more than six years,” she said. “I feel like it was here that God wanted me.”

If you’re interested in volunteering, visit AdventistVolunteers.org to explore service opportunities.