Hey Y'all!
So the journey has officially begun! It's been just over a week now...I arrived on the 19th and was greeted with hugs, high energy and lots of laughter by the group of 10 in the middle of an empty baggage claim area in Midland's tiny airport. Let me just say, they were hard to miss! I instantly felt like one of the family and these last couple days have been very busy, very crazy and very amazing days. The more I spend time with each one of them, the more I'm certain that I'm exactly where God wants me to be. To top it off, this past weekend I had the opportunity to join Wendy on a women's "glampout" retreat. It was exactly what I needed and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to be a part of it. The other ladies I spent the weekend with were all so encouraging, uplifting and inspiring. It was a weekend filled with worship, fellowship, crafts, food, laughter and tears. I can't wait to do it again! But I'm back in Midland, and in just 2 days I will be on my way to India. I can't believe this is happening! The feeling you get when you know God is working in and around you, is unlike any other. He's doing big things!
And by now, many of you have been asking for an update and I'm glad because I have some news to share! My last post had some crazy concepts but God wasn't done blowing my mind and stretching my faith just yet! So, this crazy God story starts the day before I was to get on the plane and fly to Texas. I was running around like a crazy women trying to organize my belongings into donate, save and take piles while also selling and moving my furniture all in one day. For those of you that didn't know, for the past 2 years or so, I had been renting with my best friend's family. Recently, we discovered that the house we were renting was going to be foreclosed on and we would all have to move. The timing couldn't have felt more wrong because I was trying to work full time and save money for these upcoming trips. Moving expenses and a certain significant increase in rent were not how I had planned to do that. But, I had eventually found a place to rent that was what I believed (at the time), to be the best choice for my current situation. It would have meant a long commute, a jump in rent and a fortune on gas, but the place was adorable, tiny and perfect for just me! I was only planning on being in the new place from the 11th of September until the end of December sometime so I figured I could make it work. I gave the verbal "ok, i'll take it" and was scheduled to move what little belongings I hadn't tossed in the donate pile, pay my deposit and sign the rental agreement that day. Just in case you got lost in the timing already...this was ALL on the DAY BEFORE I was to fly out and be gone for 3 weeks! I HAD to be out of my old place THAT day!
I was ready to start a new chapter for however brief it was going to be. I had my parents over, ready to help me load my car, when all of a sudden I received a text message from Wendy that changed everything! The text read "If I told you that $4,000 of your YWAM (school) fees were covered, would you be interested in going?" Now, I can tell you that my initial reaction was a jumbled mess of a million different thoughts and questions because when a God sized curve ball gets thrown at you in the middle of your 7th inning stretch, your mind starts racing! My next few mental minutes went something like this..."Was she serious (because that's a cruel joke)? What does this even mean? How is that possible? Who "covered" the fees? Why would someone cover THAT much!? I'm going to Hawaii after all!? Wait, I thought tuition for the lecture phase is only $4,300...that can't be...can it? I would only have to cover my airfare to Hawaii (which is a one way ticket) + $300??? Time out, school starts on the 26th, that means I'd have to be in Kona on the 25th...I get home from this 3 week trip on the 10th....*quick counting*...that's approximately 2 weeks after I get home! 2 weeks...wait, hold on, that means I don't need to move after all? What do I do with my stuff? Oh shoot, what about work? Do I just come home on the 10th and work for 2 weeks before I leave again? Do I quit now? etc."
It was clear that God sent me spiraling in a definite direction with just one text message! I hadn't planned on going to school in Hawaii, not because my heart didn't want to and not because I didn't think it would be beneficial but simply because of the cost. I had been wanting to do something like this for a while but the timing never felt right. It was always my desire and not (yet) God's desire for me. I was still trying to save and raise funds for this 3 week trip to Texas/India as well as the year long commitment I had made to serve abroad; school fees on top of all that just felt overwhelming and I trusted that if God really wanted that for me, He would make it possible. But I have to be honest, I had given up on the idea. I was about to be on a plane in a matter of hours, the journey was about to start, surely school just wasn't part of the plan. But after a quick phone call to Wendy to check all the facts, it was true. The insanely generous donor would prefer to stay anonymous so I won't say who but I can tell you that she decided to sell her car that wasn't being used and use the money to make sure I had no excuse not to go to school! We've never even met in person but I love her heart so much and I'm so thankful for the gift she blessed me with! It blows my mind and inspires me to know there are such selfless people out there. So, I went back to my closet that held what little stuff I still had and with the help of my momma, cried tears of joy, confusion, and letting go, as I gave it all away. I know the stuff I had wasn't much in comparison to other people but no matter the size of the pile and whether you're forced to or desire to, letting go of "your stuff" (especially the sentimental things) is both challenging and freeing all at the same time. But God wasn't done with the details just yet, later that same day, I found out that my boss had interviewed for and got a new position that would require them to move out of state on September 10th. In case you're still confused, that would mean I now had no house, little possessions and no job. God literally freed me of all responsibilities that would potentially "tie me down" and give me an excuse not to go!
So, here is what's happening...on Friday (in 2 days), I will fly to India for a week then return to Midland, Texas just to have a couple days to rest from the international travel. I'll then fly back to California on the 10th and be staying at my parent's house in Orange. Then, on September 25th I will fly to Kona, Hawaii and meet back up with the Harper family. Starting on the 26th I will be attending University of the Nations as I go through an intense 12 week discipleship training school (DTS) with an organization called Youth With A Mission, better known as (YWAM). http://www.uofnkona.edu/training/trailblazers-dts-september/
It will be a great way to prepare me and the rest of the family for living cross-culturally. The DTS will include lectures on Hearing God's Voice, Nature and Character of God, Revival and Reformation, Christian Biblical Worldview, Evangelism, Intimacy with God and Spiritual Warfare among others. In addition to the normal DTS curriculum, I will participate in the Niko program which is a wilderness leadership program that teaches on Principles of Apologetics and cross-cultural behavior research. Following the 12 week lecture phase (ending in mid December) the Harper family and I will head out for our outreach phase overseas (location TBA). We are looking at possible ministry in Arua, Uganda near the South Sudan border where there are many refugees, in Jinja, Uganda with a special needs ministry or in Chennai, India where we would be involved in starting a much needed special needs ministry. Please continue to pray for us as we walk and pray through the possibilities. Pray that God would lead us to the ministry where we can bring Him the most glory, that He will show us which ministry is a God thing and not just a good thing. Our heart's desire is to love God and love others and we know that God knows the exact location for us.
As far as the financial side of things, I plan to sell my car in the next couple of weeks and use the money to put toward my year abroad. So I will still be fundraising for the last bit of funds for my school fees + some minor travel expenses and am now even more in need of a laptop (for school, updating everyone through my blogs, as well as to Skype with family and friends while I'm overseas). I still have t-shirts for sale for $20 each (on Facebook and Instagram) as part of a fundraiser but I would like to put the order in soon so if you'd like to purchase one, just leave a comment on either my Instagram or Facebook and let me know. And a huge thank you to those of you who already have donated! This wouldn't be possible without you! If you feel led to donate, you can do so at http://www.gofundme.com/a1bb4c
I can't tell you how thankful and appreciative I am of the overwhelming love and support. Not everyone has a support system to go through life's crazy journey with but I was blessed with a solid one, so thank you!!!
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." -Jeremiah 29:11-13
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Learning to Embrace the Unknown
Dear Reader,
As I sit down to write the first of many blogs to come, I am so excited that I get to share all about this amazing opportunity that God has given me, but it will be tricky at first because I still don't have all the details worked out, so please bare with me and check back for updates often!
If you are a friend or family member, I want you to know how much I value your constant support and encouragement in my life. I have always been surrounded by people who push me to be the best version of myself and to do it with passion. Now, is no exception. I pray and thank you for continuing that, as I go through this next year or two of my life.
If we have never met and I don't know who you are, but you find yourself reading this random blurb, I want you to also know how much I value and appreciate you. Yes, you...forget that we're strangers for a moment. Whatever it may be that led you to this blog, I am thankful for that and I pray that what you read will inform, encourage and inspire you somehow.
So, let me get right to the crazy...God has blessed me with the opportunity to teach and do ministry work abroad. I've dreamed of something like this my entire life so when I found out, it was hard not to jump right in and agree to it! But things got a little more crazy when I learned that I would need to commit to a minimum of one year. But even then, that wasn't enough to stop me from wanting in! By now, you may be asking a bunch of questions but if you're anything like I was, your number one question at the moment might be, "where?" Well...the answer is, I don't know. After a lot of thought and prayer, I realized that answer doesn't even matter. The real questions I had to ask myself were,
1. Is God calling me to this opportunity?
2. Is this just a good idea or a God idea?
3. Will it glorify Him and serve a kingdom purpose?
Once those questions were all answered with a yes, I committed to a year abroad in the currently unknown. Go ahead, call me crazy! But by saying "yes" when God is asking me to follow, I feel as if I've already learned more in that one decision than I have in the past year of small decisions. It's definitely an awkward feeling, especially when I'm the type that likes to be informed and have answers. But I'm learning to embrace the unknown and actually loving it!
Here is what I do know...
In August I will be flying to Midland, Texas where I will meet and spend a week, with the amazing family who's hand picked me for this opportunity! I'll be homeschooling eight of the Harper family's nine kids (2 of which have special needs) when they make the transition from life in America to ministry life abroad. When the kids aren't in school, I'll be working alongside the family as we partner with several different ministries who each do incredible work in their communities.
Immediately following the week in Texas, Wendy, Sid, their two oldest girls and myself will be flying to Chennai, India for one week. There, we will explore these ministries and the work they are doing in hopes of determining if this will be our set location for the future.
To give you an idea of what a year working in India would look like for me, let me share a little about the ministries we will be involved with. In Touch Mission International http://www.intouchmission.org/ is a ministry based in Chennai that empowers national Christians to reach their communities for Christ. Paul and Molly, pastor a body of believers through Harvest Bible Chapel Chennai http://www.intouchmission.org/projects/india-projects/paul-and-molly-last-name-undisclosed/, as well as minister to and reach their community through various programs (ex. slum ministry, sports ministry, widows/orphans ministry, children's prison ministry as well as Ashraya Daughters- a home for girls that have been rescued from female infanticide).
Our purpose would be to establish a special needs children's home where we give respite and training to parents with special needs children who are struggling to raise their child. As well as helping to place special needs orphans in Christian Indian homes and/or forever international families, and accepting female newborns who would otherwise be killed simply because they are girls. There is also a plan to start a program to help employ special needs adults to provide jobs to get them off the streets where they are begging and abused. This ministry also just purchased more land next to the current girls home and will eventually begin building a school.
There may also be an opportunity for us to take the overnight train to visit a ministry called Sarah's Covenant Homes. This organization has provided medical care, education, physiotherapy, nutrition and lots of love to over a hundred children who were abandoned by their families and brought to SCH by the government. Most of the children arrive at SCH extremely weak and in desperate need of medical/surgical care. Sarah's Covenant Homes has a big vision for their ministry and seek to continue providing abandoned and ill children with a future and a hope.
Now, let me tell you the craziest part...India has NEVER been on my bucket list. I have never had any desire to go there, in fact, I've spent the last few years of my life doing mission trips to various places and eager to go "anywhere God wants to send me"...except India! I've even laughed about it with a few friends over the years and they always say I should be careful because one day that's where He'll call me. Well, they were right! But God has been and is continuing to transform my heart and although MY desire is located somewhere else on the planet, God's desire is that I live for Him with passion for His people. That part, I will use my last breath trying to do, regardless of where He asks me to do it...even in India. And when I see and hear about all that these ministries are doing in and around Chennai, there's no way my heart can turn away and deny them. So I said yes, I made the commitment even if it takes me somewhere I never envisioned myself being.
There is also the possibility that we may end up working in Uganda, Africa for that year (as soon as I know more about the specific ministries we would potentially be partnering with, I will update you here). After my trip to Uganda last December, Africa is where I needed to be. Africa is where I left my heart. Hundreds of tiny, precious hands are still holding onto my heart to this day and my flesh wants nothing more than to get back there. I missed Africa before I ever left it. But I will be prepared to serve Him in either place because His plans for my life are far greater than I could ever imagine for myself and I know that I will step on African soil again some day.
So for now, I'm learning to embrace the uncertainty and preparing for the unknown. I'm learning to allow my heart to be transformed for a greater purpose and praying that my time and talents will be used for His glory no matter where it may be. I'm tired of being comfortable and complacent and at almost twenty-six years old, I'm realizing why my life is the way it is. No husband, no kids, no career...society spews so many opinions at people like me and some days the weight feels overwhelming. Like my social and physical time clocks are ticking away at an alarming rate and all will be lost if I don't do something to stop it. And then I remember the truth. I was created in Christ's image for such a time as this. To brave the unknown, boldly speak and fiercely love. I wasn't meant for a business man, a white picket fence and toddlers running around with their new puppy (no offense to those with this beautiful picture!). I am called to the corners of the earth, to seek the lost and hurting and to love the unloved. I've often been told that I'm "super sensitive", "extremely emotional" and even that I "feel too much". Those words used to hurt (ha! go figure!) until I realized those aren't bad things. It's true, I feel so deeply that every word, every action and every emotion goes straight to my heart. Because I was made to help carry the burdens of others. To love when it hurts, when its uncomfortable and when it's abnormal. I can't think of any other way to do that then stepping out of my comfort zone and breaking society's rules for my life by committing to a year of loving people through my unknowns.
Now that I have said yes, what will it take for me to get there?
1. The one week visit to India will be approximately $2,000
-$1,600 for the airfare due by August 28th [Right now this is the MOST IMPORTANT part]
-$400 for miscellaneous expenses (ex. vaccinations, medications, check up, passport fees, travel supplies etc.)
2. The year long journey abroad will be approximately $3,000 but I won't know the cost of airfare until closer to the end of the year. I plan on selling my car to fund a large portion of that cost.
3. I will also be making and selling different things to bring in extra funds and asking for help and/or various donations throughout the next few months.
I will be making a fundraising page with GoFundMe.com for those of you who would like to support my journey financially. I'm currently experiencing some technical difficulties with the setup though so in the mean time if you would like to donate you can also do so via PayPal with the address: a.traveler.88@gmail.com. But most importantly I'm asking for your continued prayer and encouragement!
If you have questions or would like more information on any part of my journey, please contact me. I look forward to sharing more of the exciting news, as soon as I learn more!
As I sit down to write the first of many blogs to come, I am so excited that I get to share all about this amazing opportunity that God has given me, but it will be tricky at first because I still don't have all the details worked out, so please bare with me and check back for updates often!
If you are a friend or family member, I want you to know how much I value your constant support and encouragement in my life. I have always been surrounded by people who push me to be the best version of myself and to do it with passion. Now, is no exception. I pray and thank you for continuing that, as I go through this next year or two of my life.
If we have never met and I don't know who you are, but you find yourself reading this random blurb, I want you to also know how much I value and appreciate you. Yes, you...forget that we're strangers for a moment. Whatever it may be that led you to this blog, I am thankful for that and I pray that what you read will inform, encourage and inspire you somehow.
So, let me get right to the crazy...God has blessed me with the opportunity to teach and do ministry work abroad. I've dreamed of something like this my entire life so when I found out, it was hard not to jump right in and agree to it! But things got a little more crazy when I learned that I would need to commit to a minimum of one year. But even then, that wasn't enough to stop me from wanting in! By now, you may be asking a bunch of questions but if you're anything like I was, your number one question at the moment might be, "where?" Well...the answer is, I don't know. After a lot of thought and prayer, I realized that answer doesn't even matter. The real questions I had to ask myself were,
1. Is God calling me to this opportunity?
2. Is this just a good idea or a God idea?
3. Will it glorify Him and serve a kingdom purpose?
Once those questions were all answered with a yes, I committed to a year abroad in the currently unknown. Go ahead, call me crazy! But by saying "yes" when God is asking me to follow, I feel as if I've already learned more in that one decision than I have in the past year of small decisions. It's definitely an awkward feeling, especially when I'm the type that likes to be informed and have answers. But I'm learning to embrace the unknown and actually loving it!
Here is what I do know...
In August I will be flying to Midland, Texas where I will meet and spend a week, with the amazing family who's hand picked me for this opportunity! I'll be homeschooling eight of the Harper family's nine kids (2 of which have special needs) when they make the transition from life in America to ministry life abroad. When the kids aren't in school, I'll be working alongside the family as we partner with several different ministries who each do incredible work in their communities.
Immediately following the week in Texas, Wendy, Sid, their two oldest girls and myself will be flying to Chennai, India for one week. There, we will explore these ministries and the work they are doing in hopes of determining if this will be our set location for the future.
To give you an idea of what a year working in India would look like for me, let me share a little about the ministries we will be involved with. In Touch Mission International http://www.intouchmission.org/ is a ministry based in Chennai that empowers national Christians to reach their communities for Christ. Paul and Molly, pastor a body of believers through Harvest Bible Chapel Chennai http://www.intouchmission.org/projects/india-projects/paul-and-molly-last-name-undisclosed/, as well as minister to and reach their community through various programs (ex. slum ministry, sports ministry, widows/orphans ministry, children's prison ministry as well as Ashraya Daughters- a home for girls that have been rescued from female infanticide).
Our purpose would be to establish a special needs children's home where we give respite and training to parents with special needs children who are struggling to raise their child. As well as helping to place special needs orphans in Christian Indian homes and/or forever international families, and accepting female newborns who would otherwise be killed simply because they are girls. There is also a plan to start a program to help employ special needs adults to provide jobs to get them off the streets where they are begging and abused. This ministry also just purchased more land next to the current girls home and will eventually begin building a school.
There may also be an opportunity for us to take the overnight train to visit a ministry called Sarah's Covenant Homes. This organization has provided medical care, education, physiotherapy, nutrition and lots of love to over a hundred children who were abandoned by their families and brought to SCH by the government. Most of the children arrive at SCH extremely weak and in desperate need of medical/surgical care. Sarah's Covenant Homes has a big vision for their ministry and seek to continue providing abandoned and ill children with a future and a hope.
Now, let me tell you the craziest part...India has NEVER been on my bucket list. I have never had any desire to go there, in fact, I've spent the last few years of my life doing mission trips to various places and eager to go "anywhere God wants to send me"...except India! I've even laughed about it with a few friends over the years and they always say I should be careful because one day that's where He'll call me. Well, they were right! But God has been and is continuing to transform my heart and although MY desire is located somewhere else on the planet, God's desire is that I live for Him with passion for His people. That part, I will use my last breath trying to do, regardless of where He asks me to do it...even in India. And when I see and hear about all that these ministries are doing in and around Chennai, there's no way my heart can turn away and deny them. So I said yes, I made the commitment even if it takes me somewhere I never envisioned myself being.
There is also the possibility that we may end up working in Uganda, Africa for that year (as soon as I know more about the specific ministries we would potentially be partnering with, I will update you here). After my trip to Uganda last December, Africa is where I needed to be. Africa is where I left my heart. Hundreds of tiny, precious hands are still holding onto my heart to this day and my flesh wants nothing more than to get back there. I missed Africa before I ever left it. But I will be prepared to serve Him in either place because His plans for my life are far greater than I could ever imagine for myself and I know that I will step on African soil again some day.
So for now, I'm learning to embrace the uncertainty and preparing for the unknown. I'm learning to allow my heart to be transformed for a greater purpose and praying that my time and talents will be used for His glory no matter where it may be. I'm tired of being comfortable and complacent and at almost twenty-six years old, I'm realizing why my life is the way it is. No husband, no kids, no career...society spews so many opinions at people like me and some days the weight feels overwhelming. Like my social and physical time clocks are ticking away at an alarming rate and all will be lost if I don't do something to stop it. And then I remember the truth. I was created in Christ's image for such a time as this. To brave the unknown, boldly speak and fiercely love. I wasn't meant for a business man, a white picket fence and toddlers running around with their new puppy (no offense to those with this beautiful picture!). I am called to the corners of the earth, to seek the lost and hurting and to love the unloved. I've often been told that I'm "super sensitive", "extremely emotional" and even that I "feel too much". Those words used to hurt (ha! go figure!) until I realized those aren't bad things. It's true, I feel so deeply that every word, every action and every emotion goes straight to my heart. Because I was made to help carry the burdens of others. To love when it hurts, when its uncomfortable and when it's abnormal. I can't think of any other way to do that then stepping out of my comfort zone and breaking society's rules for my life by committing to a year of loving people through my unknowns.
Now that I have said yes, what will it take for me to get there?
1. The one week visit to India will be approximately $2,000
-$1,600 for the airfare due by August 28th [Right now this is the MOST IMPORTANT part]
-$400 for miscellaneous expenses (ex. vaccinations, medications, check up, passport fees, travel supplies etc.)
2. The year long journey abroad will be approximately $3,000 but I won't know the cost of airfare until closer to the end of the year. I plan on selling my car to fund a large portion of that cost.
3. I will also be making and selling different things to bring in extra funds and asking for help and/or various donations throughout the next few months.
I will be making a fundraising page with GoFundMe.com for those of you who would like to support my journey financially. I'm currently experiencing some technical difficulties with the setup though so in the mean time if you would like to donate you can also do so via PayPal with the address: a.traveler.88@gmail.com. But most importantly I'm asking for your continued prayer and encouragement!
If you have questions or would like more information on any part of my journey, please contact me. I look forward to sharing more of the exciting news, as soon as I learn more!
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