Gosh,
So much has happened!
I've been anxious/excited to tell you all about it.
but I had to wait till things were finalized.
They have now been finalized.
Friends,
I'm now launching on January 2014, route unknown.
Allow me to tell you all that the Lord has done these last 2 weeks.
Well,
First I guess it's a good idea to give you a little back story.
If you were to ask me last July what my plans were next summer, let alone the next month, I probably would have either:
a. made something up hoping that it was the Lord plan for me as well.
or b. given you the truth: "I dont know."
The year before that, I made a commitment for a week of staffing for a christian camp called Camp Fuego in July of 2012.
Next thing you know, July 2012 happened faster than anticipated.
My life was chaotic then,
I was living in Austin Texas by myself,
paying a ridiculous amount for a one bed-room apartment each month,
I had a job that required more time that I wanted to give and if I ever wanted a week or a specific day off, it was almost like it was the end of the world.
Thankfully, a few managers actually liked me enough to give me a week off for camp.
Praise Jesus.
At the beginning of the week, the camp director talked about needing interns for the next summer.
I prayed hard in that moment over that and felt the Spirit pulling on my heart to talk to him about it.
I did
and he told me to continue to pray over it and talk to him at the end of the week.
I did, the Spirit pulled harder.
The end of the week came and before I left I told him where I stood. He made a plan to call within the next week to talk more about it.
Tueday I got a phone call and he told me the importance of this decision, if I said yes, it meant I had to attend meetings, parties, conferences, and be present the entire summer for the internship.
This was a big decision for me,
because as I've said before, my job wasn't the most understanding about taking time off.
I couldn't afford to miss work- all the money I made at the end of the month went to rent.
And it meant a 6 hour drive both there and back just for meetings/parties.
But I made my yes a yes and trusted the Lord would take care of the rest.
Through a series of events, a lot of prayer, and a ton of trust.
August 18th, I was out of my apartment in Austin moving to Tyler.
That is when it became evident of the Lords provision and He began making His plans very clear.
From that point, I was done making decisions and plans for my life and allowed the Lord to take control of that.
Since I let go the plans that I wanted, He has already given me better plans for the next 2 years in just 3 short months!
I made a decision and commitment.
The Lord is seeing me through it,
making it clear that this internship was His plan for me all along.
Now, as it's clearly shown, apart of His beautiful plan for me, I get the opportunity to go on the world race.
I was set for the september 2013 trip.
Which meant, when the internship was done, i would be launching 2 weeks after.
It also meant, these next 8 months, I wouldn't only be working on things for this internship, but i would also be trying to raise 15,500 dollars for the Race.
And here's a confession I never said,
I've been accepted for 1 month and my anxiety was worse than ever.
I didn't know how I would be able to do it.
if I would be able to do it..
Those were just a few concerns I had.
but the real problem was training week for the world race conflicted with a week of camp.
Knowing this, I was hoping I could make it happen… somehow.
But it came to a point where I had to choose between the internship or the race.
These past 2 weeks, i've been going crazy in my mind.
I began to feel confused.
I began to question if this was the Lords plan for me to go through with it.
or if it was just a lesson He wanted to teach me.
through prayer, it became clear that this is something He has called me to all along.
so.. "now what." I asked God.
Sunday at church, I spent crazy crazy time in prayer in faith that He would make a way for me to go through with both.
Gosh,
how He works so wonderfully.
Yesterday,
I called my mobilizer and explained my situation,
she told me it was no problem and she would just put my profile on "deferred" status and when the January routes are set in stone and I decide which route to go on, my profile will be activated again and that will be my new route.
I felt such a RELIEF.
a PEACE.
I felt as if the biggest weight was lifted off my shoulders.
I'm no longer anxious.
I have more time to fundraise,
and after the internship this summer,
I have 3 months to focus completely on the race before I launch.
3 months to say goodbye's that I wouldn't be able to say if I left in september.
3 months to work on relationships I know that the Lord is pulling on my heart to work on.
1 more semester of school I can get under my belt- a few classes I'd actually like to take.
it makes so much sense to launch in January,
this is an answered prayer and as I've said before the feeling of Peace that I have about it is crazy.
Don't get me wrong,
there is a LOT that I'm super bummed about,
but the good out weighs the bad, which is how i know that it's from the Lord.
So friends,
that is the story.
the story of how GOOD the Lord is.
He listens to our prayers
He hears them.
He never ignores His children.
He ALWAYS makes a way for His plan in our lives.
He is ALWAYS teaching us something.
Everything will ALWAYS point back to Him.
Sometimes, i like to think that He plans things like this to happen,
where i'm completely in a bind and the only thing I can do is turn to Him,
just so he can throw me completely off guard, revealing Himself,
showing off a bit to say:
'hey Andie, i'm right here, I can do anything, so you know you CAN trust Me afterall. I love you, you silly girl."
(thats how my sweet Savior talks to me)
Now,
I have a prayer request.
I'm back where I was in December,
I have to choose a route again.
4 routes with 11 different coutries.
I know specific countries the Lord has called me to,
but please, please be in prayer that the Spirit reveals specifically where He wants me to go.
And because I know He will, more that I listen.
That I have open ears and I'm in tune with the Spirit to hear it clearly.Also, just because my status is deferred,
it doesn't mean I can't raise money,
the fundraising will still continue!
Those of you who are supporting me monthly,
(the money will still go into my account no problem.)
Those of you who have given a one time donation,
Those of you who are supporting me in prayer,
Those of you who are reading my blogs and subscribing,
gosh, THANK YOU for doing so,
and the problem with those words is thank you doesn't even suffice!
You are a beautiful creation of the Lord.
You are such a blessing
A God sent.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for everything.
