The Hannah Went Down to Georgia….

I am ashamed to realize it has been over 3 months since I last blogged!  oops! 

Well, I moved to Georgia.  I guess that’s a good place to start.  I officially live in “the south.” On July 9th, 2012, I flew into ATL (Atlanta) airport.  I have been here numerous times before but this time was different.  I was flying to my new home and embarking on a new season.  While Squad Leading God spoke to me about what “the next thingâ€� would be for me: going on staff full time with the World Race.  This meant moving to Gainesville, GA, finding an apartment, raising support (again), and adjusting to a “normalâ€� office life.  All in about 1.5 months.  And so I did.

The decision to move to GA was a hard one.  Summer of 2011, I had made a plan.  Move to Maryland in August.  Work and save money for 4.5 months.  Squad Lead in January 2012.  Return to Maryland after Squad Leading.  Live there forever with my friends Becky and Daniel and their son.  Add a husband, travel, and my own kids to the mix and my life would be set.  Badda bing, badda boom. 

Move to Maryland August 2011?  Check.

Work and save money for 4.5 months?  Check.

Squad Lead in January 2012?  Check.

Return to Maryland to live forever?  Check.

Funny thing this, I don’t really plan much.  I don’t like to, especially since being on the World Race.  I figured God would guide me and He already has plans better then mine, so why plan?  But this time, I wanted a plan.

As I prepared to leave for squad leading I remember saying to someone “Well, I plan on continuing to live with Daniel and Becky when I get back…unless God tells me something different,” not expecting that God really would tell me something different.  I really thought Maryland was the place for me.  I had committed.  I had gotten my license changed.  I potentially had a job lined up for when I returned.  Multiple potential jobs really.  I even bought some furniture.  All these things sealed the deal in my book.  I would return to Maryland to live. 

Sometime in February 2012:
Lindsay:  Hannah, would you ever move to Gainesville, GA and work for Adventures in Missions full-time?
Hannah:  No.  Not unless I had a clear word for the Lord.  Gainesville is gross. 
(Now, just to clarify, I never thought AIM was gross…just Gainesville.  I didn’t have any real reason to feel this way, I had just decided that it wasn’t for me). 

Flash Forwad, March 9th(ish), 2012.  Honduras.  Month 2 of squad leading coming to a close.  I am sitting in a Dunkin Donuts with my co-leader Allan, using the free internet (yes, they have Dunkin Donuts in Honduras.  Denny’s too.  With free Wi-Fi.  Who knew?), when I received an unexpected call.  I won’t type the entire conversation but the idea of me going on staff full-time with the World Race was brought up.  I remember being shocked. 
Me? 
Work full-time with the World Race? 
Raise support year-round, while working in an office? 
Not live in Maryland forever?
MOVE TO GAINESVILLE, GA?

Thanks, but no.  I felt honored and encouraged to know that the people in the office believed in me.  But, no.  This could not be God’s plan.  Not for me at least. 

For the last 2 months I was squad leading, I spent many nights praying, debating and crying with God.  I spoke a few trusted friends and family members, seeking prayer and wisdom.  And it seemed, that everywhere I turned, God was pushing me to GA.  For instance, walking down the streets of Phuket, Thailand, I passed a random person wearing at shirt that said “Georgia” moments after I had asked the Lord for confirmation one more time. Finally, I said, “Okay God!  I get it!  YES.  I will move to GA.” 

I began telling people about my decision.  The response I got almost every time?  “Yeah, I figured that is what you would choose….That is what God was speaking to me for you….Not surprised…”  Well, thanks for letting me know!  Could have saved 2 months of internal turmoil! 

(one of the training camp worship sessions)

Anyways, to make a long story even longer, July 9th, I moved down south.  5 days later I found myself at the largest World Race training camp EVER!  400 people!  Definitely a great way to start my time as full-time staff with the World Race.   The past month and half, God has blessed me like crazy.  Seriously.  The amount peace, joy, and hope I have inside of me is possibly more then I have ever experienced before.  I am truly believing for the first time in a long time that God has good things, great things, planned for my life.  I feel more confident in who I am.  There is no reason for this except God.  Because I said “yes” to Him, He has chosen to bless me.  This humbles me.  Because I finally stopped fighting and gave into His plans, I get blessed?!  Dang, my Abba Father God is so good to me. 

Anyways, this story has taken longer then I anticipated to share!  I think I haven’t blogged for so long because I knew this one would take more then 5 minutes to write. 

So, here I am, in Gainesville, Ga.  I’m sure more adventures and lessons to come.  Stay tuned! 

(and just so you know, I will NEVER be a full on Braves fan.  Red Sox all the way forever!)  😉