My last update went out in July, 2009, shortly after my momentous adventure to New Zealand (NZ) and the west coast of the US. That summer, the Lord provided a few roommates to help hold down the fort as well as several visitors including my parents visiting from Florida and several friends from the NZ school (3 Poles and an Aussie). I decided it was time for a break from being a live-in landlord, so I found a group of renters to fill the house while I went traveling for another couple months. These guys were a real answer to prayer at just the right time!
September brought a road trip to the desert of eastern Oregon for Christian Summer Camp 2009 – an annual gathering of friends from across the US, some of whom are largely transient on a full-time basis. I got the chance to lead worship and to speak on the love of Jesus for his wayward Bride at a couple of our evening meetings. My favorite skill share was on making homemade Kombucha and Ginger Beer where I got to try several different batches made by my friends Patricia and Laur. From there, I went to Portland, OR, where the Lord set up some divine appointments. I met a local pastor who had just begun attending George Fox Evangelical Seminary to study spiritual direction, something I had discovered during my time at Bethel Seminary here in Minnesota. The next day was the first day of classes for the semester, so I went with her for a visit and met the Associate Dean who was also the designer of their Spiritual Formation program. I found the visit to be an answer to prayer – my search for the right school to finish my Master’s degree was complete. Another student at the school even provided me a ride to Seattle the next day!
After visiting friends in the northwest, I made my way back through Minneapolis and Chicago on my way to Kansas City, MO. There I spent three and a half weeks at the International House of Prayer. Although I was sick for 2 of those weeks, it was still a wonderful time of restoration and blessing. I returned to Minnesota in November, where I was blessed with an amazing temporary position as a case manager for long-term homeless youth. This position was, a partnership of Lutheran Social Services, Youth Link, and Hearth Connection, relit my long-held passion for working with homeless youth! It was by far the best job I’ve ever held. I am very hopeful that God will be able to use me to a much fuller extent when I move to Portland in the fall to complete my schooling at George Fox.
There are so many other stories I could tell of this last year – including how God miraculously made a way for my mortgage to be modified after an incredibly frustrating year-long struggle with my mortgage company. I wish I could say that He taught me a lot of patience over that time, but right now I’m just thankful that He taught me how to deal with the anxiety that became at times quite a battle. He was my advocate through it all, even providing a human one in the Office of the President of the company! Thank you, again, for your prayers. I can’t hesitate to ask you to continue as I prepare to transition from my home state of 30 years to a new home in Oregon! I’m really excited, but there is a lot of preparation to be done both physically and emotionally. I am waiting to see how He works out all the details. His faithfulness never ceases!
