No matter where I am I have friends who are half a world away. I want to stay connected and keep my supporters informed. Some times I will be very busy and only update once in a while. Other times I might bore you with how much I have to say :) Just check back once in a while when you are thinking of me and see what I'm up to!

Friday, May 22, 2015

All My Eggs

Okay, so we have all heard the phrases:
"Don't put all your eggs in one basket."
"Six to one.  Half dozen to the other."

I don't know where they came from and honestly that's not the point.  The point is that in this moment I am wishing I had paid attention to their wisdom.

I thought I was being patient.
I thought I wasn't putting all my eggs in one basket.
I thought I was following where I was being called.
There is still a chance these are true, but the last couple of days my spirits have been low because I am doubting these thoughts.

For the past four months I have been working through the process of application to a mission agency.  About a month ago I was given the impression that I was accepted and so I have begun to prepare myself and those around me for this major life change.  About a week ago I spent a large amount of my own money as an investment into the final step of the process of my decision to accept the call or not. (i.e. a plane ticket to meet the team and get to know the community)

In the days following that expenditure I was given information that indicated I am NOT officially accepted yet.  The emotions that followed were a roller coaster in range.  I am now more than a little uncertain about the agency and how it works.  I am asking that you help me in the coming weeks by praying through the following:

-communication to be clarified
-discernment on how to proceed if they do finalize the acceptance
-that I will not be depressed or downtrodden because of the cost if I am not accepted
-to be reminded God has always provided and will continue to provide for me no matter the situation
-for the situation to resolve in a way that is beneficial for all parties involved
-that I will recognize no matter where I put my "eggs" God is the one that holds all the baskets so it WILL be how he wants it to be, even if it's not how I expected

After council from my mentors as well as the outreach pastor from my church I am encouraged that no matter the outcome and/or my decision I will be supported.  This will not be an easy decision, but I pray God will open my eyes to see the path he is illuminating for me.

Thank you for following along with me on this journey.

Monday, May 18, 2015

A Long Story, Hopefully made Short

Okay, so I guess I should introduce you to what my opportunity is in the near future.

Right now, as many of you know, I am processing a lot of information from my recent visit to Israel.  In the coming weeks I might bring up a few discussions about things I learned and saw while I was there.  However, for right now I want to talk about Romania.

I think I first need to rewind to a year ago.  So I had just finished my semester at Grand Valley State University and was headed to spend the summer with my parents before my last year of undergraduate work which would be at Kuyper College.  One of my major goals for the summer was to find out what opportunities were out in the world for using my TESOL certificate and specifically to teach in the Philippines.

After a lot of information searching it was determined that I would need to wait until late February or early March before I could even apply for something professional.  It was crazy scary for me to think about going another year with out work.  Through much prayer and support from my family and friends I made the decision to put off looking for work until sometime in February.

I had the trip to Israel planned so I figured I wouldn't be starting a professional position until mid-May at the earliest anyway.  Plus what regular or entry level job will give you three weeks off after just starting.  It was a tough decision, but I felt comfortable with it.

Fast forward to February of this year.  I was looking at my financial situation and beginning to worry about how I would be rebuilding my savings to be able to start paying on student loans shortly after graduation.  Then on February 9th I got a message from one of my pastors.  One of our supported missionaries was looking to fill a need and he thought I might be interested.

Long story shortened a bit.... through much communication and a lot of uncertainty I am almost complete with a very long and complex application process to work with a missionary team in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.  The missionaries have said they like what they have read and heard from me and have extended the invitation for me to come for a visit to see if I feel like it would be a good fit.  The mission agency is working on the details of a job description and a budget.

This summer (June 24-July 4) I will go for a visit they are calling a "Vision Trip" and officially meet the team I would be working with.  At this point no final decisions have been made and no expectations are set.  It would be too easy to just say, Yes this is what is going to happen.  I have to have patience to wait out the next 5-6 weeks to see how God will lead both myself and the mission team in making this decision.

If things go well during my visit this is what my near future would look like:  find a job that I can be vague about how long I'm available, downsize my physical possession to be put up in storage somewhere, try to be able to afford a couple of visits to family, wait out my lease and fundraising time, then Lord willing I would leave for Cluj sometime in October and stay for about 9 months.

Just so you are aware, there is a possibility that if that 9 months goes extremely well and I feel called to commit to a longer time they would welcome that idea.  If that is the case I would come home for a time and begin raising more substantial support in the form of monthly givers rather than just one time donations.

Friday, May 15, 2015

Let's get started

So, as a kid I thought I wanted to be either an artist or a teacher.

Life tends to not turn out how we plan.

God, as the grand designer, knows what is best and he leads us in pathways we could never dream of in all our years.  Right now I am thinking of part of Psalm 119:

Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
that I will follow your righteous laws.
I have suffered much;
preserve my life, Lord, according to your word.
Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,
and teach me your laws.
Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
I will not forget your law.
The wicked have set a snare for me,
but I have not strayed from your precepts.
Your statutes are my heritage forever;
they are the joy of my heart.
My heart is set on keeping your decrees
to the very end.

I am not a grand theologian.  I am not an eloquent speaker.  I am not very brave.  But...

I am a child of God.  I want to be obedient to his call.  I will be a light unto his world.  I hope to step into the chaos of this world and make it calm by the grace of MY GOD.

Please pray with me as I embark on this next phase and begin to seek out what a more intentional ministry using my gifts and abilities will look like.

Thank you Lord for the opportunities you are sending my way.  I ask that you continue to guide me as I make decisions about which path to take.  May your word be the lamp I use for my guide.
AMEN! Hallelujah!