The Light Has Shone On The Path Ahead

As I looked back on the last few months of my blogs, I saw a theme of asking the Lord for direction and desiring Him to speak what was coming next. I saw a longing for adventure with my husband and the Lord arise in my spirit after coming home from Haiti in March.

Well, the light has shone on the path ahead and we know the next step in front of us now!

It's been a time of seeking and asking and we have an answer, guidance and a plan for the next season of our lives!

On September 28th, only 6 short weeks away, Shane and I are jumping off a cliff from what we've known and into a season filled with risk and adventure! We are flying to Kona, Hawaii to be a part of the Call2All Discipleship Training School (DTS) with Youth With A Mission (YWAM). We will be spending 12 weeks in training during the lecture phase of our DTS which will be filled with learning, studying and preparing for our outreach with our team. Then we're off to our field assignment for 2-3 months of missions work and "doing the stuff" of the Kingdom of God! We may be going to South Africa, the Philippines or Brazil!

I am so excited for what the Lord has in store for us! I am so thankful that we have been listening and have heard His still, small whisper of direction at this time in our lives.

This jump is exciting and scary all in one. We have stared at the hard stuff and the sacrifice over the last 2 weeks since we found out we are going and allowed ourselves to feel sadness over what we will miss back at home. The cost in the natural is a big one. When I say cost, I mean it in every area. The sacrifice involves relationships, jobs, finances, comfort, future plans, perceived security, physical possessions, etc.

Some people may think that our time away will be a walk in the park because of the location we're headed to for our training. I am thankful for the place that the Lord is calling us to, but I would not pick a place based on the natural. I want to be led by the Spirit and I want to follow where the Holy Spirit leads, wherever that may be. Regardless if we're called to Hawaii ,the Arctic or Timbuktu, there is both sacrifice and excitement, trials and joys to be had. I don't care where we go as long as the Lord is with us and guiding us.

I am going to try and use this blog to stay connected with friends and family while we're preparing for this jump and while we're away over the 6 months with YWAM. I was talking with a friend today who suggested I blog weekly. I think that's a great idea! I would like to keep our loved ones informed on what the Lord is doing in and through us. I'll start with aiming at once a week and we'll see what happens once we're out in Kona. Also, check out Shane's blog at www.quietlyseeking.com!

So many of you love us and support us and we are so grateful for you. The things that happen with us and through us are a part of your story too! Please pray for us as we embark on a new season of life. Please pray about partnering with us financially in this area of the Kingdom. We can't accomplish the work of the Kingdom without one another and we'd love to partner with you!

I'll post our YWAM letter in the next few days for you to read and please contact us if you would like to receive our updates and aren't on our list yet.

Please pray for us in the next few weeks as we prepare to go to YWAM. This week's prayer requests are:
- that the details with our apartment would come together
- that the finances would continue to flow in
- that the prices for our flights would continue to decrease (down $100 today!)
- that the Lord would continue to surround us with peace as we walk forward
- that the Lord would comfort our hearts on the days we miss Steph (my sister is in New Zealand for 6-10 months)
- that the Lord would give us vision and eternal perspective each day and especially on the days when the sacrifice is felt more than usual
- that the Lord would give us joy and excitement for the adventure ahead!

Blessings to each of you!