It’s been quite a year… and i’m not talking about Covid and the elections, i’m talking about everything God has been doing this year – specifically between getting home from the mission filed and now. So much has happened (in a good way). There have been so many struggles, but it’s a good thing 😀 You’re probably wondering what this has to do with the title of this blog haha! Let me explain by sharing what’s been going on since March of this year, as some have asked me “What is it like being back in the states after a year and a half?” and “What’s next?”
Change of plans
Leaving the mission field over 3 months early was rough…for the whole squad. Not just because the trip was cut short, but because of everything that led to that moment. The two previous months in Asia were pretty hard… many sicknesses, emergency situations, and intense demonic attacks and manifestations. We were all looking forward to going to Nicaragua for our last 3 months, as we were so confident things would calm down and be so much better…. and it WAS! It was the breath of fresh air we were all hoping for. Everything about being there was so great…the environment, the people, the ministry; and we were so happy to have 3 months of it…. until about a week in we were told we were going home early. I can’t even describe the impact it had on us all. It was devastating. Not a great way to go back to America. But we all tried to remain hopeful and trust that God is in control – that perhaps we would be doing some amazing things in the states 🙂 Personally I was very optimistic and couldn’t wait to see the next big thing the Lord had for all of us.
Uhhh…what? :/
Right after arriving in the states and still being excited about the next ‘new thing’, through circumstances the Lord led me to quarantine in Minnesota for a while. When I got there the first thing He did was lead me into a time of grieving the missions trip – letting it go. Then, He invited me into a season of seeking healing and ultimately just being still and seeking Him…. a LOOONG season (you’ll understand as you keep reading) From mid March to May – EVERY time I asked the Lord what He wanted me to ‘do’ the answer was always the same… “Nothing”….. “Just seek and get closer to Me right now”. No job… no ministry… just seek Him and healing. So for 3 months I tried to just do that, and a lot of good came from it (as far as revelation and healing)
Now?
In mid May I flew back to Southern California, where I had been living the past 13 years of my life – 10 of them being a Christian and having so many great experiences 😀 So many great people, ministries I was a part of, miracles, etc. So being back in California I thought surely now the Lord has what’s next for me…. I mean c’mon… after 3 months of doing “nothing”?…. NOPE!! As before, every time I asked what I should do I got the same answer… “Nothing…. just seek Me”. Every idea I had never worked out, the Lord never gave me peace about looking for and working a job – and when I tried searching anyways, nothing. I started wondering, “How LONG is this ‘nothing’ going to last for?!!” About another 3 months pass by and by the end of that time the Lord had me move back to my hometown, after being gone for 13 years… He led me through His word, the word “move” that someone gave me from a prayer, part of a vision someone gave me, and also through circumstances. Since I’ve thrown out the number 3 a few times, I thought i’d share this also… When praying about whether I should move or not (having lived there for the last 13 years) I randomly became curious if there was any meaning behind the number 14 (getting slightly warmer to why I titled this ‘New Beginnings’). I looked it up and got “salvation”. So I thought perhaps the Lord wanted to do a different restorative work there in me this next year, which by the way…. I moved to southern California in July of 2007, and I made the decision to move back to my hometown in July of this year – 2020 🙂 So truly I am now in the ’14th’ year.
So…. now what?
Being back here where I grew up has been quite a ride… like a rollercoaster, no matter what happens – you can’t stop or ‘pause’, you just have to ride it out and somehow find peace in the MIDST of the speed and thrashing around. Being here has been back and forth both peaceful/restful and crazy. Here is a list of some things that have happened, big and small, in the last 3 months (there’s that number again. Still doesn’t explain the title….almost there)
Got rid of some stuff (still am)
God turned it up a notch with the revelation and healing/deliverance (still not perfect)
Got my car and license back Immediately
Led me to fix up the car by myself for the first time in my life. In 2 weeks I changed the oil, oil filter, spark plugs, main air filter, cabin filters, 3 engine mounts and the transmission mount (with some help)
Intense spiritual attack
Found a church to attend and get involved in (where the attack went away)
Developed an interest in music production (slowly learning about it)
Developed an interest in voice acting which started in July I think
Got a part time job with a union and health benefits
Another spiritual attack, but learned how to access God’s grace and strength IN it
Deleted Facebook
Recently met a new Christian brother with some similar experiences and desires and is only 2 years younger than me
Yet still, during the last 3 months being here the Lord has kept saying “Be still, just stay close and seek ME. Get rooted.”
Now…..maybe.
So you may still be wondering about the title of this blog 🙂 Ok…. there is one more number I want to bring up… the number 8. From what I understand, the number 8 means ‘New Beginnings’, or something new I guess. Why am I just BARELY bringing this up? Let me explain by using some examples…
1. When I was in Rwanda a girl told us her mom had been partially paralyzed in her legs for 7 years. Immediately I thought of the number 8 and concluded that the Lord may want to heal her. One day we actually got to meet her mom. We anointed her with oil and prayed over her. The Holy Spirit was VERY present and 3 of us had on our hearts that the Lord wanted to heal her.
2. This new Christian brother I met told me that he had just recently been detoxing from a period of heavy drinking he fell into – we met on the 8th day and are planning to meet regularly 🙂
3. The last 1-2 weeks of next month (November) will be the start of the 8th month since coming back to the states from being abroad.
It’s been over 7 months…. 7 MONTHS… and still I feel like things are just barely and very slowly happening… will month 8 be different? I can only hope so 🙂 Until then, the Lord is still wanting me to wait, and seek Him. But one thing He has been constantly reminding of – He is in the waiting….
Please pray for His will to be done in and through me spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Please also pray for provisions as it would cost around $5-6K for professional voice acting training. I already know someone in the business (happens to be a Christian) I just don’t have the money – especially working part time. Plus I will need to start paying back student loans in January… let’s just say it’s more than 5-6k :/ But God knows the plans He has. God bless you all and I hope you are doing well and abiding in Him in this season that our country is in. God is still good and He is still on the throne 😀
