Life has taken me on a new road...full of new possibilities. On December 28th, 2014 I started my new journey to the big town of Bastrop, Texas. Well, maybe not big...but big enough for me. The morning of the 28th came with many challenges that I will never forget. After loading my Jeep I discovered my radio/bluetooth/and display were not functioning. I tried everything to get it to work, with no avail. That is when I decided to embrace it, to enjoy the quiet. That was for a few minutes until I couldn't take it any longer. When did my own thoughts and even prayer time become so hard to accept?
So I turned on Pandora, and quietly listened to the soft Christmas tunes on my way to Bastrop. It was a cold and rainy day which meant driving was on the more difficult end. Thankfully a couple hours later I arrived at my new home. It was a great time to arrive, perfectly planned out to surprise my friend on her birthday. She didn't expect me which added more thrill and joy to the already strange day at hand. As I sat in my new home, and looked around the room full of friends, I felt such joy. Where once these were just friendly faces, they were now an addition to my family. After lunch my friends and I headed to Academy so I could buy a warm coat for Ranch living. We quickly picked out a cute one and headed to other errands. I had to pinch myself to see if it was real, was I really HOME? To be able to shop and hang out with my friends, including two cute 2 year olds, every day and to know they are always there for me...it reminded me of college days. I didn't know life could be this unique and yet so amazing. For the remainder of the week I enjoyed running errands with friends, and just embracing the small town life. I even booked a small one night pet sitting job for people in a near by town. What could be better than that? Oh yeah...a trip to Canton, Texas with the girls. We left on Friday to meet my Houston friends in Canton to enjoy some wonderful shopping at an outdoor market. My friends from Houston and Bastrop hit it off, and we enjoyed a wonderful time together. On our way home we needed to make a quick break for the gas station. We took our time as usual, and then were on our way. That is until we hit a road block, and were annoyingly merged off the freeway. Ever had that moment when you didn't understand what was going on, and just wanted to get home? Well as we made our exit, we patiently waited in line to return to our route. Then we saw it...fire trucks and cars blocking miles of the freeway. That only means one thing...fatal accidents. We quickly thanked the Lord for protecting us and then we saw it, the unimaginable images of what we all have to face some day. We never know how long we have on this earth..we have to trust that everything is in the hands of our Lord. Upon arriving home we heard the news...it was a man who had run across the road. What would make someone want to do that? To discard his life as it meant nothing to him. We may never understand things that happen in our world...but we can understand that the one true God knows it all and He protects us and guides us to where we are meant to go. This past Monday morning as the haze of the weekend had worn off, I realized I was ill. All that excitement from the week was in the past, and now I was feeling like I just wanted to go back to Houston. To curl into my bed and know everything would be ok. I was supposed to take my Jeep in...but that could wait. I got through the day, although it was by the grace of God and after the second day I knew it was only getting worse. My friends kept telling me they were there for me, but it was not what I was used to. I wanted the familiar. At this very moment I also discovered my computer charger stopped working. Something had cut part of the cord. A order in to Apple and I was back on my way to working again. It's moments like these that make me appreciate the moments NOT like these. So by Tuesday my friends offered to take my Jeep in which was a huge blessing for me to be able to stay in bed, and I am still waiting on news on that end. That is oddly the least of my concern right now. Tuesday night I realized it was becoming hard to swallow, this is not something I expected and made me question my decision to wait this illness out. So this morning I decided to get to Urgent care immediately, but I didn't have a vehicle. Then I realized my glasses were also in my Jeep so I couldn't drive if I wanted to, nor did I trust my thought process at the moment. So, I was blessed to have a dear friend drive me there. She dropped me off...ran errands and came back to wait on me. She and her sweet 2 year old girl truly made my day. And my other friend was gracious enough to lend a hand to me that morning, running to get me some necessities. I couldn't have been more blessed for friend's then in that very moment. Isn't that what having the Love of God is all about? Giving of ourselves to help others in need? It's one thing to be on the giving end, it is a whole different thing to be on the receiving end and to accept the kindness of others. I was then treated by the best and most knowledgeable doctor I have ever seen, other than my own in Houston. He heard me...and he knew how to treat me the best way possible. It was a God send and within an hour I was already seeing huge improvements. I went home, curled into bed, and continued my work for the day. It was as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulder, I was turning the corner and pain free days were in sight. So I sit here tonight with a happy heart and a joy I cannot describe. A friend recently asked me how I know that Bastrop is the best place for me. If this doesn't say why, I don't know what will. I have found a place that I belong. That isn't to say Houston doesn't provide that for me...it so does. However, Bastrop provides things that are unique and so very much needed for my life and for ministry. I have friends I can see every day and know they are always there. I have a gorgeous home and land that I can explore. I am only a few hours from Houston, and a short hour or so to all my central Texas friends, what could be better than that? More than anything...I have room to grow. I can lean on God first, and my friends and family second. But in the end, either in Houston or here, I know I have people I can lean on. So HOME is where you hang your hat right? Well I don't have many hats, but Bastrop is where my heart is now and I couldn't be more blessed. If I can make it here with the support of family and friends..I know without a shadow of a doubt that I can make it wherever God calls me. So this new Road comes with new adventures and new ways to stretch me. I say... bring it on....
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Tomorrow my future changes and the show must go on!!! I head out for the great unknown to a place I have grown to love dearly. Bastrop, Texas is now my home and what a joy that has been to discover. I look forward to waking up to sunrises and going to bed to the big stars in the sky. More than anything, I look forward to a fresh start, a new adventure full of possibilities. I am praying about different ministries I can work with, and also finding ways to start my own. The opportunities are endless!
So for this moment I will enjoy the solitude, and listen to the Lord. I will find a good home church where I can get plugged in, and I will start to make a new beginning. The road between Houston and Bastrop isn't long, so I know there is always a trip home to look forward to. More than anything I ask the Lord to guide and direct my steps and to show me why He is sending me there. What is it that I am to do? Where does the future lead or hold? Where once those questions would have plagued my mind, now I find peace in them. I already know the answer...God says trust in Me...Follow Me...and I will show you the way. So I can rest each night knowing it is not up to me to know the future, or to plan every detail, but to trust God and follow Him all the way. When we get caught up in what we thought we would be, or what others expect us to be, we lose the ability to be who GOD wants us to be. He wants us to follow Him wherever He leads. That my friends...is all that we need. Follow God today...you never know where it just might lead you. Before I can update everyone on my daily happenings, let me start from the beginning. This can also be read on the ABOUT me page. I hope this blog will encourage all those who stumble upon it. Never ever give up...God does have a plan.
****** Over the last few years I have sought the Lord and His direction back to the mission field where I know I am called to be. The process hasn't always been easy...but He is guiding me all the way. So this is my journey... ...At the age of three I began sharing with my parents that I was called to be a missionary. This was an unusual calling as most three year olds do not even know what this means. I was passionate from a young age and knew where my future calling was to be. As I grew up, the desire only became stronger and stronger. When I turned 11 years old I heard a missionary from Ireland speak, and I knew that was to be my some day home and place to share my faith with all that would hear. However, life doesn't always go the way we plan or even hope. Sometimes we are taken on a journey to learn and grow and become a more determined soldier for Christ. As I went off to Bible College I knew it was time to buckle down and prepare for the imminent future. I of course thought it would be simple. College...marriage...children...mission field. God however had a different plan that soon became all too real. Instead, for six years I went from one ministry to the next and the other dreams I had never became a reality. For three of those years I travelled the world in places like Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, The Philippines, Belize, and London. My heart of course was to the people of the UK and Ireland, but Africa set a desire in me like I had never known before. The more I travelled the more I knew where I needed to be...The one and only Ireland. Well...that door was still closed and no matter how much I pushed...it remained that way. So I did what I felt God moving me to do...I prayed and God opened the door for me to work with missionaries in London. I was overjoyed because God was directing, and there was a peace I could not deny. As I left the ministry I loved and stepped out into the unknown I was beyond excited about this journey. However, six months later the door was once again closing, only now I was jobless. I knew I was right where God wanted me...but once again I was stuck without a plan. So I got a job...and I found a new plan. I would work during the day and find time when I could to do whatever ministry I could get my hands on and prepare for the day I once again can call the foreign mission field home. Simple task you ask? Oh definitely not. Almost three years later I am still working and praying for the future. Just as God always does, when I least expected it, God opened another door and a place to call my temporary home. In the small town of Bastrop, Texas some dear friends invited me out for a visit. I quickly discovered that I did not wish to leave, and found excuses to return as often as possible. Something about this small town spoke to me, and the fresh country air was also a plus. I found solace in my friends there and their willingness to help me get back to where I am called to be. They have worked out a way for me to live in a nice home, and a place to start a new. With a mobile job...it was an opportunity I knew was of God. Now it is time to see where these new set of shoes will take me. What does Bastrop and the greater Austin area hold? What doors will God open for me to reach central Texas with the good news of Christ? Let's see what only God can do...this is my journey and a great one at that! |