Taken Care Of

"Taken care of." Our minds and our souls can go many places when we here that phrase. Sometimes we might be jealous of those who we feel are being more taken care of than ourselves, other times we might be overwhelmed at the sense of peace that people are offering us by sincerely reaching out and offering us true care. Over the last few days I have felt very anxious about my future. As many of my readers know, I have had YWAM Idaho and the country India planted on my heart since I was young. However, as many of us have heard the phrase, "We plan, God laughs," this is pretty much where I am now. God always has a better plan, and while I like to think of myself as a planner and organizer, He has always got something better in mind.
     A few days ago, I got a notification on my phone about an e-mail from one of the staff in Idaho, explaining that we had a problem at our DTS and,  due to only three attendees, we might have to cancel. DTS stands for Discipleship Training School, so before we would head to our outreach in India we have the first three months of lecture phase to teach, deepen and prepare us in Idaho. Now a new decision has been made and they are no longer offering a DTS this fall at the Cascade, ID base. You, reader can imagine my disappointment, my sleepless nights and crying out to God wondering what my next step is. "Taken care of, "... let's put that phrase on the shelf and come back to it in a little bit. 
         One of the staff at  Idaho recommended a place in Port Townsend, Washington. Marty, a director from Idaho base will even be going there to speak for a week. Once we confirmed that the  was indeed cancelled, my mom and I called the number fro Taken care of. This is exactly how I felt after the phone call with Allen from Discovery Bay. With his Australian accent he counciled me, "Amelia, this adventure is really about you going deeper in your relationship with Christ. That is the most important aspect of this entire experience." . I couldn't help, but think, wow God, really? What do you have in store for me there? I thought that this whole adventure was about India?  Taken care of. 
      Through this long season of waiting and trusting God I am so grateful for all of your prayers as supporters not only financially, but being there and praying for me, spending time with me and encouraging me. I have no doubt that Washington is now where I am called to be and who knows, I may be going to India yet, and on God's timeline (and I may adopt a few kids)! During this season of waiting to start in September I am trying to remember that God doesn't simply want us to cope through the hard times, He wants us to GROW through them. I am learning and trusting daily to be thankful during this waiting time, excited to receive this acceptance packet and looking forward to connecting with the other 9 people who will be joining me on this adventure. Thank you to those of you who are reading this and are supporters in my life, please keep me in your prayers and don't be afraid to ask me any questions regarding this new transition. Remember, dear reader, we are all taken care of. 
     
        
      

The Importance of Friendship

Something that has always taken up a large part of our prayer time at home has been asking God to provide good friends for our family. Growing up as a homeschooler, my mom always wanted to make sure that my sister and I were social with other kids our age so we attended a homeschool co-op. This is a place that provides additional academics and activities for kids who are homeschooled. Things like science classes, creative writing and gym were offered while parents spent time together learning from books and speakers.  
         I am so thankful for my parents choosing to have Grace and I be a part of this, but I could not be more thankful for the fact that my parents prayed for Grace and I to have good friends as we got older as well as when we were young.
     The other day my two best friends and I decided to have a photo shoot. I have to admit, at first I did not want to go. I thought that it would be hours of taking pictures and that I would just want to go home. Instead, I am so happy that I went! I hope to have some of these pictures of the three of us at the slideshow at my wedding someday and to always look back on these photos and laugh and say, "Hey remember when we made Catie lie down in the middle of the road?" (It was a bridge that we were taking pictures where cars weren't allowed to drive and my other best friend Elise, who is very photogenic, thought it would be a good angle and slightly humourous to have Catie lie down at that angle, it turned out to be a great picture).
     I am so thankful for these girls who I have known since my freshman year in high school. I would often wonder as a little kid, "Will I ever find the right friends who are like me and love me for who I am?" I did. I have laughed with these girls until my stomach hurts as we play Murder by a bonfire, cried with them when I need prayer and can always call them in the middle of the night if I am just up late and need someone to talk to. They have drawn me so close to my Savior and over this next year of my life as we all go our seperate ways I will miss them so, so much. However, this is a new season. This is a new time for all three of us to grow to our full potential as young women. I know for a fact that I will see them again. Even though my parents have had to sign off an agreement that they would let YWAM bury me in India if I died on outreach, I know even that I will see these girls in heaven. What a gift, what a pleasure to know, love, laugh, cry and spend time with them.
     I hope you, reader enjoy these photos that we took together and know that the only reason why I could have grown so close with these friends was because all three of us were close with our Savior. We know Him, love Him, sometimes are mad at Him, but always cling to Him for true hope and redemption. Elise and Catie, thanks for the fun I can't wait to take more pictures when we are all three reunited again:)

 

 

God Beside Me

For some reason I never have trouble doubting God's presence next to me when I am away from home in the outdoors. It is a mysterious thing where I can simply just rest and know that God is beside me and all I have to do is have faith to trust and know that He really is there and present. When I have less distractions and technology in my life I feel less irritated and more happy, and focused on what really matters and why I am called to live this life that God has planned for me. 
         One memory I have is of our most recent trip as a family camping at Whitewater State Park. This is an annual trip that we take every summer with my dad's co-workers and their families. As we sat around the bonfire late at night, laughing and talking, I was caught off guard by the intense welling up of gratitude that overwhelmed me and sent a surge of joy running through my entire being. Looking around at all the faces I thought to myself, "Wow. I have been taught by these people, corrected, loved and appreciated. Here I am now, a high school graduate sitting in their company in this same place that I have been since I was 6 years old, and now I really get to have the privilege of simply enjoying them." It is an amazing thing that we often aren't able to fathom, that God wants us to enjoy life. He even tells us very specifically in His Word, "Celebrate God all day, every day. Revel in Him! Don't fret or worry. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers letting God know your concerns."-Philippians 4. Lately, besides the immense feeling of gratitude I have been realizing how blessed we are as humans to have a God who desires relationship. A God who says, I want to talk with you, yes you! Wouldn't you want to spend time with me today so that I can bless you when you sit and talk with me?
        When we start to wake up and realize how simply good God is we are able to find what it means to rest in Him and have the privilege of knowing Him intimately. On this last trip to Whitewater State Park, (I hope to have many more and bring my kids there camping someday, God willing) I came to a deeper understanding of God always being with me and beside me. Looking back, I long to be there again, communing with our friends sharing the same campsite, waking up to seeing each other whether it's simply on our way out of our tent, or a good morning sitting beside each other by the campfire and reading before a long hike. I am so grateful for these people and this experience of fellowship. Camping is often times challenging, especially when you will find a frog in the bathrooms or a racoon that your dad is determined to scare off the campsite by punching it through the inside of the tent. 

The most beautiful part of the experience is the simplicity of friendship and time together as families. I look forward to next year and to right now trusting God more deeply because even here at home with all the distractions I know that He is right here beside me, even as I type this. Thank you dear friends, for this sweet experience and the memories that we have made together. Let's continue to share the fellowship of our lives spent together in our own kitchens and backyards. Peace to you, readers may this encourage you to be able to fathom the overwhelming grace that the God of the Universe is right there beside you, where you are reading this, right now.