Prayer Answered…and again…and again…

I’ve been home for two months!  Can you believe that this time last year I was freezing my tush off in Moldova sweeping beaver poop and handling my business with just a cut out hole in the ground?  But here I am, sitting in a recliner with a huge TV in front of me with hundreds of English channels, I have a refrigerator stocked full of food that I can use my microwave to heat up and I have excess amounts of water to wash myself and my clothes.  It’s crazy to think this has been life for the last two months.

Now if you followed me on the field, especially in the last few months, you know that I was struggling with what God had next.  I wanted to come home, find a full time job, take a few months to save money, then move into my own place and really build up a community around me.  Two months ago I was freaking out about what God had in store.  Was I going to be able to find a job?  Was I going to make it home even! 

I didn’t know anything, but there was this peace that kept overtaking my heart in the midst of me trying to get all worked up and worried.  This peace that said, “Baby girl, what have I taught you?  Trust me, Daddy’s got this under control.” 

I trusted that God had it under control.  When I wanted to freak out, I couldn’t because that peace was overwhelming.  I prayed and I asked God to show me what was next.

Now it seems like my dreams never really line up with Gods.  I want to serve in England; God sends me to the Pacific Rim.  I want to go to Physical Therapy school, God tells me to be a missionary.  I want to marry the man I love; God lets him break my heart.  I want to go to Europe and Australia and the tourist spots; God sends me to Uganda, Cambodia, & Moldova in some of the hardest places to live.   But never once did it NOT turn out better than what I wanted.  Every time God showed me that He is good and that He knows the goodness that He had waiting for me.

So when I had this idea that I would come home, get a full time job, get my own place, spend time with my family; I thought maybe God had something else in store.  Turns out, my desires might FINALLY be lining up with God’s desires!

When I arrived in the States, I wasn’t sure if I’d make it from California to North Carolina.  But God provided several people that donated to me, both from my squad and from home.  Then He provided me with a short term job opportunity.  The money I received from donations and working not only got me home but ended up lasting me a month! PRAISE THE LORD!! 

I was home in North Carolina for a whole week before I had my first interview and was offered a job.  God made me wait for the job, but I eventually got started on August 28^th (yea, only a month after finishing the Race.)  The details of how I got the job are an answer to prayer themselves.

Then the woman I am replacing at my job tells me that she knows a great Bible study for me to join and gets me connected.  Already I’m loving this Bible study and getting to know some amazing women in the area.  I’d say forming a community.

As if that’s not enough, the woman is moving away and the owners of the house she is renting are looking for someone to take it over.  It’s five minutes from work, as compared to the 45 minutes I’m currently driving and it’s an amazing price.

And you know, I probably would have been satisfied with any job, but I really wanted to be involved in something with the ministry.  My job, believe it or not, is for a mission organization.  I’m one of 20 people out of 600 on our campus that has a paid position.  I work alongside missionaries on furlough or people that have retired from overseas missions and I get paid to go listen to people talk about the missions they are currently working with. 

I’m humbled that God would hear my prayers.  That He would answer them in such a way.  I’ve always believed that prayers work, but I’ve also been afraid to be specific with my prayers, I didn’t want to push God.  But He’s a big God and He provides as He sees fit.

I don’t think this is where I’ll be forever.  I think I’ve still got a number of years waiting for me overseas, but this is where I am now and I’m happy.  I’m happy that God is looking at His baby girl and telling her to rest for a while and take in the goodness of what He’s giving.  I’m happy that God is providing in ways I didn’t even think to ask for.  I’m happy, I’m humbled, I’m grateful, I’m crazy in love!!