FRIENDS!
I realize time flies... and I've been on the mainland for almost a month! So, I wanted to give you an update. :) So... where am I? PELLA, IOWA... until Sunday anyway. To back up slightly, I came home at the end of September, had a wonderful time seeing my parents for 2 days, while repacking from tropical wear to winter wear. Then saw my sister for a day (which included fun wedding dress shopping for her!) before coming to Pella. I've been here almost 4 weeks, and it has been so wonderful!!! I was nervous about what things would be like coming back here, but as I hit the outskirts of town all I felt was "I'm home!". Over these last few weeks, God has blessed me with some great encounters with people here! I've had such an amazing time catching up, praying with people, spending time back at Third with the youth, and so much more! I also had my friend from YWAM, Chandra, visit here for week. We went to North Dakota for a weekend to see the IWT (Impact World Tour event) and also to Kansas City to meet those I'll be volunteering with in November, and I introduced Chandra to IHOP (Prayer, not pancakes :)). God continues to teach me about "leaning into Him," even in the little things, and He keeps surprising me! I think the greatest part of being back is having the opportunity to see how much God has done inside of me over the last 7 months. Being in the same environment I was before has truly shown me the changes that happened, that I didn't totally grasp while I was away. I feel so blessed!
So Sunday, I move to Kansas City to help with the LA Congress right after Thanksgiving. As I mentioned in my last email, God had put on my heart to go home for the month of December. I hadn't really known why, but since my last email He has made it known. My mom called and shared that she will be needing replacement knee surgery, and they are going to do it the first week of December! God is so awesome, how He speaks to us when we are willing to listen! So, I'm going home to be with both of my parents, and to help out. My dad thinks he is getting a personal chef too, and I can't say I'm sad about that. :) Plus, I'll get to use my new found CNA skills!
I'm still not sure where I'll be going in January, but I still feel tremendous peace about it! Please do keep me in your prayers for that! May God bless all of you with greater joy each day! Finally, if you are in Pella on Sunday (this weekend, Oct 30th) I'll be doing a presentation about my YWAM time from 12:30pm-1:30pm at Third Church in the Furnace (below the Auditorium). All are invited!
