Abide.

I've spent a lot of time over the past couple of months looking back on the journey that brought me here, just a few months away from moving to Zambia. And wow, it's been a crazy one. But there's been one constant throughout: God's faithfulness. 

If I can encourage you in any way today, I would remind you that God is faithful. And you can abide in that. The past year of my life didn't go anything like I thought it would go. Not one detail went the way I saw it in my head. Proverbs 16:9 has never been truer in my life: "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." This time a year ago, I thought my world was falling apart. I was mad, hurt, and frustrated with God and His plan. I felt like God was tearing everything out from under me, moving my two greatest and closest mentors away from me within a month of each other. I felt abandoned. I remember crying on the phone with my dad and telling him that God was ripping every constant out from my life and it wasn't fair. And that's exactly how I felt. And I told God often.

But let me tell you, God was faithful. And I so didn't deserve. I did nothing but complain to God about the situation He had placed me in. I started going around making my own plans without consulting God and settling for a mediocre future. I would have given up on me; I have no doubt about that. But God loved me immensely through my hurt and confusion. He held me tightly in His hands and His provision in my life has been the sweetest blessing. 

God brought me to my knees before Him, and I finally admitted I had no clue what I was doing and all my plans were failing. And God began to whisper into my heart.  God stood there with arms open wide when I came crawling back to Him with the broken pieces of my heart and soul. He began reminding me of the heart He created in me, of the passions He had given me, and of the unique ways He had burdened me heart. He reminded me that He had not, nor would He ever, leave me to figure things out on my own. I just needed to trust Him again. He reminded me of Romans 8:28: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose," and Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

God began to lay out the steps for the path He intended for me. He gave me faith to trust Him as He drew me closer and closer to Himself. He restored joy to my soul. And as Journeyman became the clear path, He began to show me how He would use that hard season of my life. He began to reveal to me how much I had learned through the season, how much I had grown, how much deeper my trust in Him was, and how much more intimate my relationship with Him was than before I went through the trial.

So my encouragement to you and my prayer for you is to abide. Abide no matter what life looks like from your perspective. Abide in Christ's heart for you. In His love for you. Abide in His perfect will. Abide in His sovereignty. Abide in His faithfulness. Abide in His victory. Abide in His peace. Be overwhelmed by Him. Every moment of every day. Constantly abide. Keep trusting. Keep abiding. God is so faithful. He has absolutely no weakness. God is only good. There is no evil, no deceit, no wrong in Him. He is only good. There is no part of Him that is flawed, no area or room for improvement. And you can rest in that. You can abide in that. 

My heart is overwhelmed

If I could choose one word to describe this season of my life, it would be overwhelmed. In so many good ways. Mostly overwhelmed by God's faithfulness, provision, and sovereignty. But also completely overwhelmed by all the love and support that is being poured out on me by friends, family, and even strangers as I share how God is working in my life. My heart is constantly full and overflowing.

I wanted to take some time to explain more details about what I'll be doing and my timeline over the next several months. Right now, I am working at a school in Columbia. God was super faithful to provide me with a full-time job there. They have been so gracious to hire me, knowing that I can only work through September and then they'll have to find someone else. All the teachers and staff at my school are incredible blessings to my life and God uses them daily to encourage me. And of course, being able to spend some extra weeks with children who have grown so dear to my heart (since this is also where I did my student teaching and worked part-time after graduating last December) brings me a lot of joy too. So I'll be in Columbia through the first week of October before heading to Williamston to spend a week with my family and stand by my best friend, Katie, as she gets married on October 13.

Two days after Katie's wedding, October 15, I'll be driving to Richmond, VA. I'll be living there for 8 weeks at the International Mission Board's International Learning Center for my training. I am so excited to be reunited with some sweet and awesome people I met in July when I went to the Expo Conference.

My last day in Richmond is December 14. Then I'll be leaving for Zambia probably a day or two after Christmas. During that two weeks between returning from Richmond and leaving for Zambia, I'll be visiting family and friends and cherishing spending some sweet time with the people I love.

And then I'll be in Zambia for the next two years of my life. I am so excited. And of course, overwhelmed. As I learn more about the people of Zambia, I am already falling in love with them. During my two years in Zambia, I'll be living in Siavonga and working with the Langston family to reach the Tonga people. The Langstons are IMB missionaries. They have already been in Zambia for 3 years and just returned to the field in August. They are absolutely wonderful. James and Marci Langston have 3 children: Taylor, Emily, and Micah. I've had the opportunity to talk to Marci once on the phone and I can't wait to join them in how God is using them to reach the people in Zambia. Part of what I'll be doing during my time in Zambia is helping Marci homeshool the children. I'll also have the opportunity to work in ministry with the Zambian people. There are lots of different opportunities in Siavonga, so I am excited to see what work God is preparing me to do there.


Siavonga on the map of Zambia

Children at the orphangage in Siavonga

School sign in Siavonga