Espana!

Awhile back I posted about a journey of faith that Jesus was taking me on. I hinted at things, and now as God has chosen to bring this path into the light, I feel I can share more about it.

When I was only twelve years old I felt that God was calling me to the mission field. I could hardly wait for the church service to be over to rush up to my dad (the pastor) and tell him. But God has simply not chosen to open any doors for overseas service. Each summer as others travel on missions trips I feel so left behind. As they share their stories and testimonies of changed lives I find myself in tears, longing so very much for that to be me. But each time so many things have blocked my way.

Back in September or October I was talking with my lifelong friend Deanna about my desire to serve overseas. I mentioned that I was open to traveling anywhere, even to Spain, where God has led them. She gave me information about how long I would be able to stay in Spain, when would be the best time to come, and gave some rough estimations about costs. I would be able to live with their family, help start their church, maybe work at some Christian camps, and a lot more. Immediately I felt God telling me that this was what He had been saving for me all these years. All those two week missions trips I missed are nothing compared to being able to live in a foreign country for 3 months with people my family has known for my entire life.

As I began to pray that God would open doors if He wanted me to go, my spiritual life grew so much. The amount of money I needed to earn/raise was staggering to me. The permission to be prayed in seemed like a huge challenge, and the list of obstacles grew with each day.

I decided to take a step of faith in November, and applied for my passport. Last year it was taking 6 months to get a passport, and I had exactly that much time before I needed to have it. There were questions about the paperwork that could possibly push things back even farther, and I had to just take it to the Lord. Only TEN days after submitting my paperwork I received my passport. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! That was the first time that I truly felt God was going to continue to open doors for me.

A major burden on my heart was the desire to give away as much as possible to the people I would be serving with. Abigail and Lauren gave me a book by Randy Alcorn called The Treasure Principle. In it he compared giving to the work of a postal person. You wouldn’t expect them to simply take the mail home, but to deliver it to the recipient. So maybe when God gives us money to manage (because it’s all truly His anyway), we are simply to deliver it to the right person. For this reason I felt God burdening my heart to be able to earn as much of my way as possible, and use any gifts I might receive to pass on to others. I am so excited to see how much I can earn, save, and give away! After all, when you die you can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead.

The search for a job was long, and I wasn’t able to find anything as soon as I wanted it. My deadline was January, and I realized that if I didn’t have at least a part time job by January I would not be able to make the trip.

December found me googling jobs, quickly applying for one I never thought I’d get, and then receiving a call from them the very next day. I interviewed that next week, and then waited through the long Christmas and New Years break for news. Finally (God’s time sure is slower than my time : ) ) I heard back that I did indeed have the job! It has far exceeded my expectations. I went to work the first day with a card in my pocket that read “Press toward the Goal,” to remind myself that no matter how I liked it, I must press on. I came home from the first day rejoicing and saying “I LOVE MY JOB!” How amazing is God? Really, to provide everything when I truly needed it, and then, He throws in an amazing job, because He can. I give Him praise for truly knowing and fulfilling the desires of my heart.

Right now I am planning to leave for Spain, Lord willing. There are still obstacles to be overcome, plans to be made, and things to be worked out. I am already in love with the country, and cannot imagine how amazing this will be. God is teaching me so much about submission, faith, trust, hope, dying daily, and obedience. I cannot begin to describe the journey in words, and I am excited that this is only beginning.

Please join me in praying for His will, for open doors, for the shutting of wrong doors, for provision, and for complete faith and submission to His heart’s desire for me. Thank you all for caring and praying. He is truly worthy to be praised.

Easter

I wasn’t supposed to work in our Bible club today, but I sure am glad I did. Here’s a few special moments:

(I was trying to keep two little ones occupied while Stephen explained the gospel. Our whispered conversations were quite funny).

Little Girl: What’s 5 + 3?

Me: 8

Little Girl: What’s 6 + 3?

Me: 9….

Little Girl: What’s….? (This went on for quite awhile with me wowing her with my addition skills and her coming up with more and more even numbers like 80 + 80)

Little girl: What’s 200 + 200?

Me: 400

Little Girl: Nuh-uh!!! It’s 300!

Me: Nooo…pretty sure it’s 400.

Little Girl: NO! It’s 300!

Me: What’s 2 + 2 ?(Two can play this game)

Little Girl: 4….

Me: Soooo… 200 + 200 is 400. It’s just 2 + 2 with a lot of zeros.

Little Girl: Oooooh!

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The two little ones noticed my gash on my leg (which looked quite lovely with my easter outfit I might add )

Them: ooooh….what’s THAT?!

Me: Ok, let’s not touch it please.

Them: *Poking everywhere around it* We’re not!!!!

Little Girl: Why does it make a mark when you push on your skin?

Me: *Searching for the meaning of life basically* Ummm….no idea.

Little Girl: But WHY?!

Me: *Making something up* Umm…because it makes the blood go away from that spot.

Them: Ooooooh!

I’m so smart.  :)

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But the best moment of the day? This conversation:

Little Girl # 2: Dear God…I know I’m a sinner…please come into my heart and make me clean inside…

 Oh yeah. God is good, all the time!

On this day we celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection a little girl found out what that means for her. On this beautiful Easter morning our first Bible Club kid got saved! I have a new little sister in Christ!

Hallelujah! He Is Risen As He Said!

(This picture was taken during Stephen’s lesson on the resurrection. It’s a phone picture so it’s not too good, but still precious because that’s the little girl who would later receive Christ.)

Oh.

Today in Bible class we had our normal cute kids, but they were cuter than normal. One little boy who is particularly adorable took a turn for the stubborn but eventually made it back to just stinkin’ cute. The conversation went something like this:

Stephen: “Ok Jacob*, hold Miss Rebekah’s hand!”

Jacob: ”Nooooooo! I’M SPIDERMAN!!!!!!!!!!!”

Stephen: ”But even spiderman has a girlfriend! Hold her hand!”

Jacob: ”Oh. OK!”

Kids are so irresistibly cute. :)

*(name changed)