Times of Change

“To everything, there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven” Ecclesiastes 3:1

After almost 22 years of teaching, this season has come to an end… GOD is doing something NEW! And I cannot wait to see what He is doing in this new season!!

I’ve always enjoyed helping others and serving. I found purpose in serving at church, doing community outreach, joining service projects, teaching compassion to the children in my classroom by feeding the homeless, packing blessing bags, etc. However, what stands out in my mind so vividly as I write this is my first mission trip to Appalachia Mountains with Adventures in Missions.

“a season to weep and a season to laugh,…” Ecclesiastes 3:4

I was a type-A personality, a control freak… who needed to know every detail and have “an organized agenda”. I registered to participate on this trip because it was described as a family trip with construction projects in the schedule as part of the mission. It was everything I wanted! I could take Abi (my daughter) with me, I could do demo and construction and we could serve together. Well, that was my plan, but God had something else in store. 

On the first day, the schedule felt through, and I remember thinking AIM didn’t have a clue of what they were doing! Pat Styles the project leader at that time (and now my dear friend) challenged me to ask GOD what HE wanted from me during the trip. She asked me to go on my first-ever prayer walk. I remember hiding in the kitchen trying to work my way out of going. Whatever God was doing it surely did not include me going on a prayer walk. I signed up for construction and time with my daughter, not whatever this was.  However, after day two I was completely sold out, I finally understood that Pat and  AIM were Spirit-led and that they held their schedule with hands wide open to give room for God to do what HE desired to do! It took years of learning and surrendering. Reading Seth Barns’ book “The Art of Listening Prayer” helped me to learn to be flexible and willing to relinquish my plan and my agenda to the Lord. But it was there, in the dining room hall at the church in Appalachia, where I asked GOD what He wanted from me? I asked Him- What can I do Lord? Do you want me to do missions? Show me! And that HE did, through a banner showing pictures of tongues of fire, HE spoke to me.

The following year we did another family mission with AIM to Philadelphia, and then the next year, and the next. One day someone invited me on a mission trip to Haiti, that trip changed my life completely. It was there by the Haitian waters that I asked the Lord. If you want me to do this, if this is my calling, you must make it clear and make a way.

 

And HE DID! I came back from Haiti, and I was invited to the Short-Term Mission Project Leader training. I went to Gainesville GA, took the training, and that summer I led 3 mission trips! GOD MADE A WAY! I couldn’t believe it! I was a single mom, a preschool teacher, and a “missionary”! Every school break I would go on missions. And then I came about Adventures in Missions woman’s ministry Beauty for Ashes.

“… a season to mourn and a season to dance,” Ecclesiastes 3:4

My heart longed to be with Beauty for Ashes on one of their mission trips, but at the time I couldn’t, so I went and took the facilitator training. I found out there that my story mattered! That GOD wanted to heal my brokenness and pain and use it to bring freedom to other women. I started facilitating blocks, I was invited to speak at church, at a woman’s conference, to lead a Beauty for Ashes Bible study, but God didn’t stop there. He was working in the mist. I kept working as a teacher, leading trips, and doing Beauty for Ashes Ministry, All the time praying for God to open a door for me to be able to do ministry full time.

Then one day… He opened the door! AIM invited me to become their Beauty for Ashes Public Relations Coordinator! There was no denying, that God had made a way!

So now, a new season begins! And I am so excited for what God has done to get me here, for what He is doing, and for what He will do in the future! After years of practicing, I can say, I don’t know what my future holds but I do know who holds my future! And my future is secured in HIM!

Prayer requests:

• Upcoming mission trips! I’ll be leading youth groups to Costa Rica, Chicago, and Puerto Rico. Prayers for safe travels, lots of excited and expectant teenagers, Spirit led ministry and lots of heart change! Please pray for God’s will to be done and for His name to be glorified.
• Partnership – Support raising! I’m in need of *monthly* supporters who feel led to be generous with their finances! Philippians 4:17 says: Not that I seek the gift itself, but I do seek the profit which increases to your heavenly account -the blessing which is accumulating for you.
• Being able to fix my eyes on the Lord and to continue to follow HIS lead in this NEW adventure!!!