Merry Christmas and
HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! I hope you all have had a blessed, joyful time with
your families and loved ones and you’re experiencing the wonderful presence of
God. I’m so grateful for the perfect gift of JESUS in our lives… GOD IS SO
GOOD!
So, I have some big news that
I’d like to share. The past few months have been a whirlwind filled with some
of my greatest moments of joy, life, and abundance. I am continually in awe of
God’s goodness, faithfulness, and provision. It just blows me away. To make a
long story short, God has brought the man of my dreams into my life and has
united our hearts, passions, dreams, and visions for the future. We are head
over heels in love and we want to spend the rest of our lives together,
bringing glory to God and spreading His kingdom around the world. PRAISE the LORD!! So on Christmas day,
Jesse Newton (yup, that’s him!) got down on one knee and told me how much he
loved me, that the Lord has made us for one another, that I’m his best friend
and the love of his life, and that he wants to spend the rest of his life with
me. He asked me to be his wife and through a waterfall of tears I responded, “OF
COURSE!� It was one of the most beautiful moments of my life. It’s clear that
the Lord has led us together and that we truly are made for each other. We’ve
both gotten profound words and confirmation from God about our relationship and
there’s a deep sense of peace that this is exactly where we’re supposed to be. So yup… I’M ENGAGED!!! And I couldn’t be happier! GOD
IS SO SO GOOD!!! 🙂
I realize that this may come as quite a shock to some of you
and potentially leaves a lot of questions up in the air. I’m going to try my
best to clarify some of that now, but please know that if you’d like to hear
more or if you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me
and I’d LOVE to talk to you more!
Let me first give you a little background on this whole
situation. As you all know, I have a heart for missions, serving the Lord,
bringing His kingdom to the nations, ushering in His divine freedom,
redemption, and love, and more specifically serving in Thailand for this next
season of my life. Jesse feels the same. SO SWEET!! We met at a World Race
training camp about a week after I finished the race (this past May 2011). We
only talked a few times but each time it felt like we had gone to a totally different
realm because we connected on such a deep level so quickly. I’ve never talked
to someone who mirrored my heart and passions to such an insane degree; at
times I thought I was talking as the words were coming out of his mouth. It was
wild. Jesse has led Real Life trips with AIM (for college-aged youth) for the
past three years and one of his most recent trips was to Thailand. God
literally broke his heart for the people there (especially the young girls
caught in or at risk for entering the sex industry) and the Lord called him to
return long-term to work for change. As we talked at training camp, I realized
how similar our hearts and passions were and it blew me away. We kept in touch
a bit over the summer and once I moved down to Georgia, we began hanging out… a
lot. Soon after that we were dating, completely in love, and we knew we were
meant to be together forever. It all happened pretty quickly, but I am more
sure than ever that this is the man that is made to be by my side.
Jesse was originally on the Thailand Initiative as well, but
wasn’t able to start working with the team at the end of October because his fundraising
wasn’t where it needed to be. So I began with the team and have been working
with them for the past few months on planning, fundraising ideas, strategic
development, and focused prayer and worship for what the Lord has. The Thailand
Initiative team has been undergoing some changes itself as new members are
joining in January and the Initiatives have recently been moved under a
different department and different leadership. All across the board it’s clear
that we are in the process of change, movement and transition. But it’s good. GOD IS DOING SOMETHING NEW.
Early on in our relationship, Jesse and I began seeking
mentorship and counsel from the leadership in this community. We knew this wasn’t
just another relationship – the Lord had made it clear to both of us that this
is it, but we weren’t sure what other changes that entailed. After speaking to
some of our spiritual father figures (Michael Hindes and Mike Paschall), it was
recommended that we focus on our relationship and that neither of us launch on
this Initiative. It made total sense and was something that we had both been
considering as well, seeing as how sometimes who we’re called to be with is
more important than what we’re actually called to do. (Jesus first called the
disciples to Himself, and from there they worked together to spread the gospel
around the world.) I believe I am first called to Jesse, and from there we will
spread His kingdom together to the nations. I AM SO EXCITED!!
So basically, this is where the change comes in. I am no
longer a part of the Thailand Initiative team; I am still supporting and
encouraging them in the work they’re doing, but beginning January 3rd
I will be working in a new department in the AIM office. I’m taking on a new
position as the Project Coordinator for the Marketing Team, managing the
projects and work flow that come from the brand managers and go to the
creativity team. It’s a completely new position and something I don’t have much
experience in doing, but I’m excited about this new opportunity to grow and
serve a team of people passionate about the Lord who seek to share testimonies
of His goodness with the world. So prayer for favor in that new role would be
awesome. 🙂
Jesse and I
are still called to Thailand. We are still called to work with Ray and
Candace Ward and Outpour Movement in Chiang Mai. We are still called to work
with Burmese refugees, victims of trafficking, set up sustainable developments,
and bring Christ’s love, hope, freedom, and redemption to that nation. This
passion still burns in both of our hearts and we can’t wait to get back there
and serve with these beautiful people. However, it’s just going to be a little
postponed. It was recommended that once we’re married, we remain in this
community for at least nine months to continue seeking discipleship, counsel,
and support from others before we launch out into long-term missions. Too many
life changes right after each other (marriage, launching to the mission field)
doesn’t set us up for success and we want to make sure we’re not rushing into
anything the Lord has. So our tentative plan as of now is to get married at the
end of April or beginning of May 2012, and then launch out to Thailand in
February or March of 2013. We both could potentially see ourselves working in
Thailand for life (with visits back home to see family of course), but our
initial stint will probably be around five years. We’re SO EXCITED to be
working in a ministry the Lord has so clearly called us both to and to be doing
it together. It feels like the greatest gift in the world. GOD IS SO GOOD!
The cool thing is that we’ll still be doing what we were
originally planning on doing with the Thailand Initiative, but now we’ll just
be doing it together and with the community there. The Thailand Initiative team
will still be there once we launch out in 2013, so we’ll be able to work
alongside them and partner with the groundwork they’ve already begun to lay,
along with serving Ray and Candace’s vision for the people there. I’m SO
EXCITED!!
I am still considered an apprentice with AIM and will
continue working with them until the end of April (when my commitment is done).
I may stay on longer than that depending on their need and my fundraising
situation (my position working at the AIM office is completely support-raised
as well), so we shall see where the Lord leads. Jesse is currently working as a
boat mechanic at a local marina and will most likely continue doing that until
we launch out to Thailand.
I want to now take this opportunity to apologize for any
confusion or misunderstanding any of this may have caused. I am completely
aware that this is not what you originally signed up for in terms of support.
The Lord is constantly on the move and is definitely doing a new thing in my
life and the lives of those around me. But I’m so grateful that I have said YES
to the Lord’s plans for my life instead of trying to take control and make my
own come to fruition. I seriously
feel like Jesus is fulfilling the deepest desires of my heart and that I’m
smack dab in the center of His will. It has always been my dream
to do long-term missions with my husband, but that was always something that I
had to surrender to the Lord and I never knew if it would actually happen. Well, it’s happening… and it’s beautiful.
God has me in a season of ridiculous abundance, provision, and blessing, and
all I can do is worship Him. HE IS SO SO GOOD!!
Therefore, I just want to say I’m sorry this looks different
than I originally thought it would. Trust me, it looks different for me too! I’m
no longer doing the Thailand Initiative, but I will still be working with the
same ministry in Thailand… just a little delayed. The end goal is the same, but
the journey to get there and who I will be doing it with looks different. THANK
YOU for partnering with me on this journey through all the twists and turns in
the road. I am so grateful for you!
Jesse and I are continuing to fundraise for our time in
Thailand and we still do need your support if you’re interested in standing
with us in this adventure. God is definitely doing something and we’re so
blessed by the community of people who have decided to join us on the journey.
THANK YOU so much!!
I’d love to have more conversations with those of you who
have committed to giving to me monthly. Your support is still pivotal in this
time, but I understand if you’re no longer able to give because this looks
different. Please know that I am so grateful for your support, encouragement,
and love. God is using you in powerful ways and I’m blessed to know you all!
THANK YOU again for your hearts, for understanding, for your
continued encouragement, love, support and grace. I am so uplifted by each one
of you. THANK YOU!
Please let me know if you’d like to talk more… I would love
to chat! I love you all and I’ll talk to you soon! ABUNDANT BLESSINGS to you!!
Our first Christmas picture/ card 🙂
At our first O-Squad wedding together in Nashville, TN! (YAY for Heather and Alex’s marriage!!)
All together at home in MA for Christmas with the family! I LOVE THEM all!
We just got ENGAGED! On a hike! On a rock ledge! And it got dark! And we used our headlamps! Haha… such an adventure. We LOVED IT! 🙂
Yea we love each other… a lot 🙂
