Hope Hamilton, a 19-year-old rising sophomore of Samford University, learned during her time at Donelson Christian Academy that she had a heart for missions.

This summer, she placed that heart on the line as she traveled thousands of miles away to a clandestine country in northern Africa.

Hamilton, a class of 2006 graduate, recalls that she was first called to global ministry as a DCA student. Quoting scripture verses such as Jeremiah 1:5, which talks about becoming a "prophet to the nations," she found her calling for the Muslim population through a Passion Conference. Looking back on Bible classes and the gymnasium banner that says "To know Christ and to make Him known," Hamilton said that she allowed God to take His path in her.

However, the Biblical lessons learned at school were a far cry from the foreign nation she entered on May 21. Traveling with the missions group Cafe 1040, which she selected because of its cultural immersion program along with missionary training, she entered an undisclosed northern African nation, residing in a basetown on the coast. With a team of 12 other Christian college students, Hamilton received classroom and Arabic language training before heading out into the Sahara desert to apply her skills.

She learned about water purification and waded through rivers, built her own shelter and navigated the wilderness, even sleeping under the desert stars.

The law in her host country states that no one may "shake the foundations of Islam." Because of this, Hamilton and her team could not declare themselves as missionaries. She defined herself as an "undercover agent" and "tourist with Kingdom purpose."

Working with Muslim girls, she helped portray familiar stories such as the Birth of Christ. Preserving her own Christian faith, her team would pray to Jesus instead of Allah when the Islamic prayer calls sounded five times daily. With only 2% of her base country as Evangelical Christians, Hamilton cited Luke 10 that says, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few."

Returning August 10 and beginning her sophomore year at Samford, she hopes to "finish university as fast as I can" and return to the mission field. She is also entering Arabic 200 courses. "At this point in my life, I cannot imagine working or living or doing anything else but making Him known in the Arab world," she said.

With the fervor and dedication she expresses, not many people could either.