New Direction or Redirection?

These past two weeks have been a complete whirlwind!!!  If anyone would have told me this would happen, I would have been hard pressed to believe it.

Two weeks ago today at church, we had a beautiful presentation of Jeremiah 18:1-6 by Mike and Pam Rozell.  You can see a little description video here:
http://www.pottersfield.org/10477/content/content_id/193800/About_the_Touring_Ministry

I had seen this presentation before and I knew it would be good, but little did I know how the Lord would use it in my life.  During the presentation, some of the things Mike and Pam said touched me deeply.  The photos of the kids in El Salvador reminded me of when I went there to work along side this ministry, but I didn't seem to receive a dramatic revelation at the moment.

At the end of the presentation, I went up to the table thinking that I would ask about possible ministry opportunities after I would complete the plans that I already had in motion, somewhere in the January timeframe, as I didn't really have plans then.  During the conversation, it didn't seem like there was a really good fit, particularly for that timing, so I saw it as a closed door and moved on.  The next day, Pastor Ray texted me and asked if I had considered going with them.  Although I shared my impressions and proceeded with my plans, he contacted Pastor Mike to explore if there were any options where I would be a good fit.  As they talked, the doors just flung open.  Later that day, I spoke with Pastor Mike and the options just opened up wide for changing my plans entirely, which completely turned my world upside down!!!

Potter's Field Ministries has been serving the Lord for many years.  In addition to the presentations that they do, they have orphanages in Central America, Africa and South East Asia.  Along with the orphanages, they have community outreaches and church planting working together to minister to the surrounding areas.  Various churches partner with them and send teams for short term trips.  They also have an internship program for young adults (18-29 year olds) where they dedicate a year to the Lord, go through training and serve at one of their mission bases.  More details are here: http://www.pottersfield.org/10477/content/content_id/251896/What-is-IGNITE

PFM also has other service opportunities/needs that they don't announce, but rather seek the Lord and wait for direction from the Lord for connections.  As Ray and Mike talked, it was evident that I fit into a discipleship/overseer role that they have need for, particularly with my Spanish translation skills.  There are two sites that seem to be a good fit for me and I would potentially be sent to either.  The sites are in Costa Rica, where the current couple that is there would be coming out later this year, and Guatemala, where a new work is being established.  Either one of these locations would be very exciting and the opportunities are also long term.  In order to be part of the ministry, I would need to go through the initial 3-month training at Montana with the interns, beginning July 9!!

After this conversation, I sent some short messages to some of you asking for prayer as I found myself needing to make a decision very quickly about a dramatic change and I desperately needed direction from the Lord.  I found myself needing to pray hard and hear from the Lord, since I had many questions that needed answers.  My mind was spinning and my heart was racing!  To those of you who heard and prayed, I am very grateful!!!  The Lord met me in that desperate moment and reassured me that this new direction was from Him.  I very much struggled with making this change and I also needed to know that it wasn't in my flesh that I had been making the other plans up to this point.  What about my travel to China?  What about the people that I was going to meet there?  What about my friend in Bulgaria, who I miss and would love to see as her baby is born?  As I spent time with the Lord, He brought me to Abraham and Isaac on Mt. Moriah.

And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” - Gen. 22:12

Of course, this is a popular passage and it can be interpreted many ways for our lives.  The Lord pointed me to my desire to serve with a ministry organization and spoke to my heart that before allowing that, He wanted to know and wanted me to know that I would be willing to go anywhere with Him alone, that I wouldn't depend on anyone or any organization backing me up ... that it wasn't until I bought my ticket to China, that I fully surrendered and was willing.

I felt a lot of peace and I had confidence that I had heard from the Lord, but a lot of plans needed to change, some added and some removed and others even to undo current plans, particularly last minute (as it was 4 weeks until my departure to China).  I also had a lot of conversations that needed to take place.  In addition to the direction from the Lord to my heart, there are a number of factors that make this opportunity uniquely special and evidently the Lord.  Yes, here is a list of the top 10:

1. I have already worked with this ministry in El Salvador and I have seen what a mission base looks like and how it operates with a short term team, along with part of the role that I am needed for. 
2. The Lord directed multiple people to different places and multiple conversations to line up just at the exact time to open these doors. Of course, a huge evidence is that the pastors and ministry leaders of PFM have extended this invitation to me!!  This is a role that no one off the street can apply for!!!
3. It is a year commitment that begins July 9 ... the EXACT day my leave of absence begins and matches it perfectly!!!  The date selection was done way before and for completely different reasons, yet the Lord had them match exactly!  The timing couldn't be better!
4. The opportunity has potential for long term service, should the Lord direct that way, once the year completes.  Although an amazing experience in the Lord, after going to China and Bulgaria, I still wouldn't necessarily have a long term vision for service, so this is unique.
5. It will be great to have my language skills be an asset to the ministry, rather than a hindrance.
6. The training at the Ranch in Montana will be a great foundation for the future work the Lord would take me to, where great pastors and teachers, such as Don McClure will be teaching!
7. The Spirit has bore witness of the new direction through spiritual mentors, such as my pastor, pastor's wife and other leaders, friends, in addition to my family, Mom and Grandfather that this is not a decision made on a whim.
8. A dear friend shared with me:
   Colossians 3:15 from the Amplified Bible (AMP)
   15 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].
   Also, Is. 30:21 And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left.
9. Other than my initial location in China and my friend in Bulgaria, those plans were starting to enounter a difficulty to line up.
10. Before this happened and without telling me, my dear friend Marina and even her mother in law in Bulgaria had started praying that if the Lord had something different for me than visiting them in Bulgaria, that He would re-direct my plans.  She saw the Lord's hand in the change and generously released me from my plans to come see her, even through we both would like for me to visit during this time.  We both still hope the Lord will open the door in the future. 
11. I spoke with Pastor Ted, and although a slightly more difficult conversation, given the gap that I am leaving with this change, he also was able to see the hand of the Lord in this.

As I adjust my plans, and since this time, I have been extremely busy (not that I wasn't before).  I would like to ask that you please keep me in prayer for:

1. My preparations and travels - I still have a lot to prepare and will be driving cross-country from Rochester to Montana July 4 - July 7 (or July 8 if the days become too long).  Yes!  I leave in 2 weeks from today!!!!!!!
2. My heart is still burdened for the people I would have visited in my travels that are now being canceled.  They still need someone to take my place and fill the gap left by my change of plans.  Please pray the Lord provides and directs Ted to fill this gap!
3. That I would learn the Lord's heart during the training months in Montana and that the training would join my heart to the ministry teams already in place and the interns.  That the time would be the preparation I need for what is ahead of me.
4. That the Lord would direct the selection of the mission base I will go to at the end of the 3 month training.
5. That the Lord would be confirming and directing if this is His plan for me long term.
6. For provision financially and understanding what it means to raise financial support, particularly if the Lord calls me to this long term and full time.
7. That I would be able to go to Mexico for a short visit for Chelsea's wedding in November :)

Thank you all for your prayers, support and kind words!  They mean so much to me!!!  God bless you all!!