Karrie and Justin Miller have committed the next two years of their lives to the people of India. But their commitment will likely extend far beyond that.

"This is a life change for us," Justin said. "We will go wherever God places us. … We've really left the doors open."

The Millers leave Aug. 17 for Great Britain, where they will undergo several months of missionary training. In January, they move to Punganur, India, where they will begin their work against human trafficking with a missionary organization called Oasis.

Karrie will work first hand with the women and children who have been victims of human trafficking. Justin will manage a fair trade factory where skateboards and roller skates are manufactured.

The two don't expect to move back to Rapid City and their long-term plans and location remain completely open.

"When we first tell people about it, they look at us like we are crazy. … But the more we tell them, they usually say, 'I wish I had done something like that when I was younger,'" Karrie said.

Karrie and Justin, both 33, met in 2003 in England when she worked with a missionary organization helping prostitutes find a new life.

Justin, who is from London, says he always believed in a higher power but didn't consider himself a Christian when he met his wife.

The two married in 2004 and eventually moved to Rapid City, where Karrie grew up. Justin's life has been undergoing major changes ever since.

"It's been a big turnaround in my life," he said.

After their move to Rapid City, Karrie worked at Working Against Violence and the Cornerstone Rescue Mission Women's Shelter. Justin worked as an engineer while becoming more immersed in his wife's Christian life. He credits not only her but the friendships he developed at First United Methodist Church for helping with his spiritual development.

"Four years ago, I wasn't even a Christian," he said.

As the couple settled into their life in Rapid City, they began to look for greater meaning. "Over the last year, we've felt more restless than settled," Karrie said. "Feeling like there was more we were supposed to be doing."

When friends mentioned the Oasis organization, the couple began exploring that option.

Karrie was first to embrace the idea of a new lifestyle. Justin admits it was a harder concept for him. "It's a huge risk to give up your lives for something that's not tangible," he said.

Shortly before Christmas, Justin says an inner peace settled on him, and he's become convinced they are making the right decision.

They put their home on the market in May and sold it in three weeks. "It was kind of a confirmation for us that we were doing the right thing," Karrie said.

Ruth Charles, their Realtor and a friend from First United Methodist, sees it the same way. "It kind of seemed like a miracle actually," Charles said.

They sold their belongings and moved in with Karrie's parents, Al and Angie Wessel, where they'll stay until they leave.

Both of the Wessels say they're supportive of their daughter's plans, despite admitting they will miss her. "When you see your child happy, you're happy for them," Angie said.

Because they will receive no compensation for their work, the Millers have spent the past several months raising money. They held an Indian dinner in July, where Karrie prepared Indian cuisine. Angie Wessels also is holding a going-away picnic for the couple Aug. 15.

With everything in place, the Millers say they're a little nervous, but mostly excited about the rest of their lives. What the future holds for them, they have no idea. But both believe a higher power is at the helm and they're open to wherever they are steered.

"We have nothing to fall back on. This is it," Karrie said. "It's really about our faith."

Contact Lynn Taylor Rick at lynn.taylorrick@rapidcityjournal.com or 394-8414.

If you go

A going-away picnic for Karrie and Justin Miller, a Rapid City couple moving to India to volunteer for the missionary organization Oasis, will begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, at Old Storybook Island. The public is invited.

To find out more about the Millers' mission work, go to Karrie Miller's blog at http://www.karrie-miller.blogspot.com/