Rushing Waters

(Cumberland Falls 7/26/09)

Ever since we got to Barbourville, I feel like I've been caught up in rushing waters. I guess I should say nothing is what was expected. The town, the people, the area is exactly what I expected, probably even better really. The job situation and the church situation have been somewhat frustrating. First off, there are still jobs open. It seems as though the jobs go to people who are local though. School starts next week, and I'm still waiting to get a phone call. I'm trying to be patient, but it's so frustrating when I see jobs getting filled, knowing that I'm qualified and not even being given a chance to interview. I have been calling and going to schools, but just seem to be getting the run around....seems like it must be time to just sit back and wait on God.

Part of the reason we felt called here too, was to help bring younger families into the church. We both have experience working in the ministry, and planning outreach events, so we were very excited to start this aspect of the ministry we feel God has for us here. Sunday, however, was a horrible blow. Jason and I sat there with 17 other people (no joke) the only people under 50 (most were in their' 70's or 80's) and that was it for Sunday morning. I cried...I literally cried. "God, you want us to bring young people into THIS?!" That's the only thing that continued to go through my head. As the congregation sat there and barely made it through singing three hymns, while the piano player was yelling the chords across the stage to the 79 year old electric guitar player....I cried and begged God to tell me why He took me across the country, away from my family...to a place where I had no job, and to what seemed a dead church...

So, I feel as though I'm drowning. At least, I was on Sunday. I'm better now and over my initial "shock" and am ready to press on to whatever is next. They definitely need young people at this church...and maybe Jason and I are just the one's to rock the boat in this rushing water...

I'm Unemployed Today

I resigned from my job today. It was kind of unexpected, and last minute, yet something that I had been thinking about for awhile. I spoke with my principal and we cried and hugged, it was very emotional. In the words of Julie Andrews: Let's start at the very beginning:

A few months back, Jason and I started talking about the pull towards ministry. We didn't know what would be appropriate, or what we would do, but we both felt the need to help somewhere. After talking with Jason's grandfather, he mentioned his ministry in Barbourville, Kentucky. Out of his small church of 40 or so members, he serves over 3,000 hot meals a week. He drives all over Kentucky to pick up donated food, and brings it back to the church's small pantry. After talking about it, and finding more details, we found out the need there is tremendous. Many of the areas that the food pantry serves doesn't have running water, or electricity. The pantry is thriving, but could be so much better, with more resources. For instance, one day, the church has to call people in to eat ice cream, because they didn't have enough freezer space to store it! Simple needs, yet with the resources, they are not accessible. We felt what they needed, we have the experience necessary to help and serve.

We felt the call to go. (Ok, so I argued with it a bit...but it soon became very clear we needed to go!)

There are many reason ultimately why this is a better "fit" for us. After our divorce, we both struggled financially, and the results of a divorce are devasting on one's credit. We have made goals to have our loans paid off in five years. A goal we can only accomplish by moving to a place where we aren't "working to survive" and we will actually have that extra money to pay off debts. It's a good feeling to have a plan.

As far as teaching goes, there aren't very many job opportunities ever available in this area. We struggled with knowing what I would do...we prayed about starting a daycare, doing in home daycare, doing at home data entry...all things that would work, but maybe logistics of it all would take some time. Within two days of us deciding we would definitely be going, the job openings in the school district there went from "zero" to about seven available positions! It turns out that a lot of teachers retired this year after 30-35 years of service! It seems as though doors are being open for us. I have applied, and sent my resume...just praying for some results. Would you mind praying for me?

In the next few weeks, our lives will be changing drastically. We are moving to Barbourville, Kentucky on July 16th. I am both scared and excited. I'm sad about leaving my mom and brother here in Phoenix, but know it's what I'm supposed to do. Well, I should say, we know it's what we are supposed to be doing. For the first time, we have goals, and we see a way of accomplishing them. We see a way to serve others in their time of need, which is something we both have always had the desire to do.

It's all happening so fast, and there is so much to share about it all, there are so many opportunities for all aspects of our lives, and we are excited to step out in faith and see what is in store for us.

Thank you all in advance for your prayers and encouragement! Stay tuned for more updates regarding the "big move."

Love you all~