There's no place like home...

There really is no place like home! As I drove into town and saw Mays Island, the bridges, the City Hall, and the Court House my mind was filled with old memories of the 4th of July. I drove past the history museum where a project I did in photography class hung. I went to Christy's (one of my best friends and roommate) house and we reminisced about old times and stayed up late watching chick flicks. The next morning I drove past both of my old houses and what used to be Drug Town (where I worked in high school). Ahhhhhh...the memories...

I had a home presentation to share about the ministry at VCS. Jenna and Jeff came with Riley and Mrs Grey came as well. They all had many questions and it was a fun time to catch up. After that, Christy and I went to a graduation party where I saw many old friends from camp. I was also able to share about my upcoming plans to many there as well. The Lord is good!

I am now up to 46% of my set up costs! Praise the Lord! And 40% of my monthly. All though the Royal's game fell through, the Lord continues to show me that He is in control and he will provide the way...He often needs to remind me that I'm not in control. :-)

Well, I'm off to go to Faith Bible Church this morning (my ol' stompin' grounds). Keep Reesa and I in your prayers!!!

Jeans Day

Jeans day was a success! Our principal allowed us to wear jeans this Tuesday if they donated $5 to my ministry. I raised $170! I also had a chance to share with some people at work about my ministry and what it was all about.

Next Wednesday is the Royal's game concession stand. Pray that lots of people would buy food and that it would be a success. I will get 10% of the proceeds.

Next weekend is the Rummage Sale Fundraiser. Lots of people have already donated. Come and check it out if you live in the area. I don't just need people to donate I need people to shop too!

It's hard to believe that I move out of my apartment in less TWO WEEKS! Woo hoo!!!

Quick Update

Well, believe it or not another month has gone by. God has been teaching me so much through this process. He has shown me that He is the source and my prayer life has been strengthened.

Reesa and I bought our plane tickets and I found myself squealing with excitement like a girl at Christmas time. We were able to get really great prices and we are even on the same flight!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Things are starting to wind down for me. The night class I was teaching is over which has given me my week nights back. There are 2 and a half weeks of school left. I do have 5 IEPs (special education paperwork) to write before then. So, my weekends have been full of paperwork. I'll be glad to see that done! In my "spare time" I have been support raising. I am currently at 39% of my one-time costs and 40% of my monthly support. The Lord is so good!

Up next: running a concession stand at a Royals game where all proceeds go to my ministry, a fund raiser at my church like a dodgeball tournament, a rummage sale where donated items are sold, and a home presentation as well as coffee dates in Cedar Rapids.

One month later...

Well, it's been a month since I blogged last. Besides less furniture in my apartment not much has changed. I'm selling my things on Craigslist and Ebay and look forward to having that part done. I have a computer desk still up for sale but other than that and a few more little things I've sold everything I wanted to! Praise the Lord! In many cases, I was able to get asking price and twice I even got more than asking price!!!

New neighbors moved in across the hall and they gave me all their old boxes which will save me lots of money! The Lord provides in so many ways! I'll be moving the things I want to store at my dad and mom's house on June 4th and then spending time with my family until the 20th when I leave for Pre Field Orientation for two weeks. After that, I teach three weeks of Extended School Year (summer school for special education students). Then one more week with family and off to Austria (Lord willing).

Currently, I have 19% of my one-time costs and 36% of my monthly costs. This weekend a man from Reesa's church said he would like to support me and Reesa. The people God is raising up to support me are coming from places I would never have dreamed. He gets all the glory!

The next step is more home presentations and a fund raiser at Great Adventure Ministries (a singles ministry in Omaha). Pray that God would use these to get the word out about this ministry and possibly support me.

If you'd like to contribute to this ministry on a monthly basis or a one-time gift please send checks to: R.C.E. International, P.O. Box 4528, Wheaton, IL 60189—4528 and put #2987 in the memo.

Risk...

Today my friend Trevor sent me a text to listen to truthforlife.org with Alistair Begg. It was all about Ecclesiastes 11. Verse 4 says, "Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every could, they never harvest." Verse 5 goes on to say that we cannot understand the activity of God.

Begg quotes Julius Caesar who says, "There is a tide in the affairs of men which taken at the flood leads onto greatness but if you miss the tide you're going to be paddling out there for a long time waiting for the next wave."

Waves don't come along all that often...not the kind that will rush you off into a whole new opportunity. If you constantly sit waiting, watching, wondering, analyzing, doing all the pros and the cons and the ups and the downs, you'll be sitting there until the day you die. Of course, it's good to do that but you can't let it paralyze you.

Ephesian 5:16-17 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

It's not an ideal time for me. It's not ideal to quit two amazing jobs in a time where people are loosing their jobs. But if I don't go, where will I be years down the road...farther behind. I can't watch the clouds...or I'll never harvest. Don't wait for ideal conditions...there are no ideal conditions!

With this being said...I turned in my letter of intent saying that I would not return to school next year. Ecclesiastes 11:1 Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you.

To sign or not to sign...

I've been seeking wise counsel about the decision of signing a contract for next year or not. I met with Pastor Chuck and he explained to me that God doesn't always want us to go directly from point A to point B. We may be on our way to point B when God causes us to go in a zig zag. But sometimes in moving towards point B we end up where God wants us to be. He reminded me that if I didn't end up raising all my support and serving in Vienna it wasn't the end of the world. In fact, that might be how He gets me where I'm suppsed to be. He asked me where my heart was and I told him serving the Lord. He asked me why I was so scared of not signing the contract and I told him I was scared of not having a job next year if I didn't raise all my support. He then asked what I loved more, job security or serving the Lord. Am I more in love with my job or Jesus?

After this meeting, I talked to a retired missionary from my church on the phone. He told me they had a missions meeting where one of the elders talked about his cell phone. Having a cell phone was convenient, he could call people on his way home from work, and people could get a hold of him on the golf course. However, it cost him $65 a month and he thought about how much that would benefit a missionary. Then another elder talked about how he had cable and he wasn't sure how much TV God wanted them to watch anyway. And he, too, wondered what that money would do for a missionary. This really encouraged me and showed me that God could bring in the money in ways I never dreamed of!

It was after much thought and lots of prayer, that I have decided not to sign my contract here at Lewis Central. I'm moving towards Vienna and if He chooses not to bring in the support, I'll be interested to see what He has for me next. I'm putting my total trust in Him. Jesus has my heart; and I'm going to serve Him wherever He leads me.

Take my life and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my hands and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Missions Festival

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday was our church's missions festival as well as one of the worst snow storms we've had all year. Ha! Reesa and I set up a booth and shared with those who were brave enough to face the ice.

Many were excited to hear about our future ministry at Vienna Christian School. But not only that, many people were supportive about my situation at work and a sweet couple prayed with me as I still face the decision of what to do about next year.

The disciples were out fishing and not having much luck when Jesus says, "Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish." and Simon says, We've got fish folks! Soon, both boats were filled with fish. Is Jesus asking me to drop my nets in Vienna.

Luke 5:11 says, "Don't be afraid! From now on you'll be fishing for people! as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus." Jesus comes right where we are and invites us to follow Him. Jesus calls us to not be afraid. They left everything.

My delima is knowing the difference between stepping out in faith (leaving everything) and being a good steward of what God has given me. I have two wonderful jobs and am at 25% of my monthly support. Honestly, I am scared. Each day at work I am faced with the question of what I have decided. Please pray for wisdom!