Life Changes!

Oh my...it's been way too long since I last blogged.  My life has currently been full of change and busyness, but I think it's finally slowing down!  This past week, Jake and I went down to Daytona Beach, FL with our high school ministry students and leaders and attended Big Stuf Camp - a week full of late night girl talks, fun afternoons on the beach, hearing guys like Donald Miller and Andy Stanley talk about God and relationships, and awesome worship led by Kristian Stanfill.  It was incredible to get to baptize my students Megan Dionne and Sam Hendrick - I was so blessed to get to lead them into more of their relationship with God through this public stand!  I'm constantly blown away by these students and their desire for more of Jesus!

Last year on the ride home from Big Stuf, my mind was filled with challenges from Francis Chan, one of the speakers at camp, as he challenged us to really give it all up for the gospel.  Little did I know that God would use his words and that bus ride home for a radical change in mine and Jake's life.  As we rode home, our friend Kevin challenged us to pray about going to India in October.  Jake and I had always wanted to go out of the country for missions together, because neither of us had done it before.  I thought to myself, "there is NO way I could 1) get off of school for 10 days during the school year and 2) raise that much money!"  I'm sure God was laughing as He had a huge adventure ahead of us.  As we got home and I got back into school, I went to see my principal who said he could "make it work" and granted me permission to be off for 10 days! Jake and I were blown away at just how fast family members, church friends, and college buddies sent in money to support us financially to go on that trip.  It was on the ride home from India in October that I felt a strong voice telling me that the reason I've been a little restless in my teaching job was because He had created me and called me into full-time ministry!  Wow! I continued to teach of course, but had a calm and peace about my teaching job knowing that since God called me, He would provide a means for that type of full time ministry. 

Spring Break 2011 rolls around, and I'm still unsure about what to do once the school year ended.  I knew I loved my school (Sanderson) that I taught at, but just didn't see myself going back for the next school year.  Leaving Sanderson, however, wasn't the decision that "made sense" in everyone's eyes...it also meant leaving behind a steady pay check and financial and "American Dream" stability.  Our friend Kevin then told Jake and I that he was leaving his job to pursue the ministry called Global Hope India - and asked us if we wanted to be apart of what God was calling him to!  Global Hope India will be helping provide sponsorship of pastors, villages, and orphanages as well as planning trips to India to spread the gospel. I jumped at the opportunity to join in connecting America's resources to India's poverty.  There was a big need for an event planner - someone to coordinate fundraising events and church events and future trips.  After much prayer and debate and bittersweet emotions of leaving my students at Sanderson, Jake and I felt complete peace about me making this transition.  I resigned from Sanderson on the last week of school and was overwhelmed by so many fellow staff members who said things like "wow, we can totally see you doing this!"  Two weeks after school was over, we traveled to India with 21 of our high school students from Hope - God continued to confirm that He is calling me to full time ministry focused on bringing the gospel to ALL of India!  Throughout this whole transition, God provided Jake another job - his dream job as a surgery P.A. in the Raleigh hospitals!  It is crazy to look back and see how through our constant prayers and patience, God has literally dropped these opportunities in our life!

Katie, Me, Allison - my "travel trio"

Two of my favorite students at The Jesus Way International School

Love these girls! Maleshweni and Krishnavini

I'm so stoked by what God is doing in our life recently - and definitely humbled and at peace!  I'm honored to be working for my fellow brothers and sisters in India!  Although stepping out has been full of risk, a tighter budget, and even questions from family members and friends, I know without a doubt that this is the door God has led us to for this season of our life and marriage. 

Be encouraged that God has a HUGE purpose and plan for whatever season of life you are in currently.  Remember that He is building in you the person He has created you to be, through whatever situation you are in.  I'm so glad He always has plans for a HOPE and FUTURE for His children!