Wow, it’s been a long time since my last update. The last time you heard from me in this forum was probably while I was still in Colombia. (I just checked…yep, June 17 is the last time I posted).
Maybe you have been wondering what I’m up to now that I’m back in America. For the first month or so, I slept, processed, grieved the end of a really cool, really hard season, and spent time catching up with family and friends.
The second month started my job hunt. At first I looked for part-time, low commitment jobs. You know the type- work your shift and then go home and not have to think about what happened at work. I wanted to work in a coffee shop or be a cashier at a store or boutique.
After more than a month of looking for part-time work, I shifted my efforts to looking for career-type employment. I broadened my search parameters and looked all over Texas, in North Carolina, and Colorado. I even looked at job postings overseas. I applied to a billion jobs and got very little response back. I was super frustrated and discouraged but I knew that God has good plans for me, so I just kept praying and searching.
Then, out of the blue, a friend sent me a screenshot of a job posting for a non-profit in the city she lives in. I filled out an application online and sent my resume and cover letter. I got an email back almost right away and scheduled an interview. I interviewed about a week later and fell in love with the organization and the people. A week after that, I got a call from my new boss offering me the position!
I can’t say I always understand God’s plans or his timing, but he is always good and his plans are always abundantly more than I could ever think or ask.
So here are the juicy details!
I am moving from New Braunfels, Texas to College Station, which is just under three hours north east. As many of you know, College Station is home to the Fightin’ Texas Aggies of Texas A&M University. It’s an exciting place with lots of college students, young families and more churches than I could ever hope to count. It’s a far cry from the charming, historic streets of my home, but I’m excited to create new community and learn more about college football!
I have begun commuting several days a week to my job and my sweet friend and her husband are letting me crash in their guest room until my move in date (November 2)! I will start working full time in a few weeks, once I’m settled in College Station.
I am working with an incredible non-profit called Still Creek. SC is doing something about the brokenness and poverty HERE in America. I know we all wrote home about the poverty and brokenness, women and children in need, men committing crimes to provide for their families, and all the hard work people are doing overseas to combat those issues. SO, I’m thrilled to get to be part of an organization that sees the brokenness here and is fighting hard to stop the cycle.
Still Creek provides a safe, loving family environment for children who come from crisis situations of abuse, neglect and abandonment. Children are restored from the inside out through three main things: the Gospel, education, and work ethic. SC first and foremost introduces children to Jesus as Savior and we know that cultivating a personal relationship with the Lord is the foundation of any true, lasting change. Children also receive a high quality education through 12th grade, which will open future doors for college, trade school, and careers. SC also instills a strong work ethic, because that will help them overcome any obstacle they face in life. These three things combined will help children break the generational cycles of broken families and homelessness, and will grow children into adults who do their part and give back to their communities.
I am stepping into the role of Development Director. I haven’t figured out entirely what that means, but the broadest picture is spearheading fundraising (since Still Creek does not receive government funding and runs entirely on private donations) and overseeing marketing. I’ve only had a handful of hands-on work days and I feel a bit in over my head. But mostly, I feel incredibly blessed and honored to join hands with these incredible people to change our community one kid at a time.
If my time on the race taught me anything, it’s that God always goes after the one. He’ll leave behind 99 others to chase after the one lost sheep. These kiddos are a perfect example of the Lord’s pursuit. There are so many kids in the world who are lost in poverty, abuse, neglect, homelessness, and worse, but I get to be part of changing the future one kid at a time. And really, that’s all anyone can do -initiate change one heart at a time.
Soo- now you know where I’m at in life. Lots of good change coming up. A handful of you have asked how you can help me now that I’m transitioning back into life in America. I haven’t been sure of what to say because all of my immediate needs have been graciously met by my sweet parents. I’ve prayed about it and came up with a few ways you can partner with me in the coming months!
One- PRAY. As I will always say, prayer is the biggest and best weapon in any arsenal. Pray that the Lord continues to move in my life and in everything I’m involved in. Pray that he brings supporters to Still Creek, so that we can continue to bring in new children. Pray that hearts are touched and lives are changed. Pray for us as we move forward as domestic missionaries-reaching out and finding lost and hurting children. And lastly, pray that we will remember to stay very small so that the Lord can be very big. It’s HIM changing the lives of these kiddos and we are so grateful he chooses us to be his hands and feet on earth.
Two- SUPPORT. If you feel led to support Still Creek Ranch, please head to the website (stillcreekranch.org/donate) and give in any way you feel is right. There are several options on the page for you to choose from. We also have a wishlist on Amazon, so if you don’t feel led to support regularly, a one-time gift in the form of a physical need is also such a blessing. Find our tangible needs here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/invite/3Lo99ML
Three- WARM. If you feel led to help me in this time of transition, help me “warm my house!” I sold and/or gave away 90% of my earthly belongings before the race to fundraise for my 11 months overseas serving the Lord. With that, I need things like pots and pans, a shower curtain, and a vacuum cleaner. I would be so blessed by anything you feel led to help with. You can find my wishlist here: http://a.co/84TMncR
Thank you for believing in me, for supporting me around the world and back, and for your many many months of prayer. God is so good to give me a community like you and I hope you know I wouldn’t be where I am without you. Truly, I am so humbled to get to keep living my dream and serving the Lord right where I am!
