Two Places at Once...

Have you ever been in two places at once? Sure, there's the occasional trip to Texarkana, but who's counting that?

This last week I had a rare privilege. Despite being scared for my life on the front end of a boat with a Romania police officer at the helm, I managed to be in a channel on the Danube that is both Romanian and Serbian. Thus, I was in two places at once. I lead a team from Crossbridge Community Church to a resort near the Romania/Serbian border to conduct an evangelistic camp for 17 young adults with HIV. The results of this trip were amazing. Not only did the Lord touch the heart of the young adults at the camp, He forever changed those of the team members.

For me, there was incredible peace at this year's camp. The past two years have been particularly hard for me, unsettling even, as I was fighting what I knew the Lord intended for me...relocation to Romania. However, now that I've relinquished my control and am seeking what I know is the best possible thing (obedience), I felt the most unbelievable peace while at camp. It truly was a "peace that surpasses all understanding" as the Bible describes. So I'm ready to take the jump into the unknown. A little exciting and a little unnerving, but I'm spinning my wheels in the States at this point and possibly even sinking into the mud.

So even though I press on toward the goal to win the prize, I leave behind incredible friends and family that truly love and support me. I guess you could say that in a way, my heart feels like it is in two places at once. My head however, feels like it is in three places at once. Today, August 24th, is my last official day in San Antonio. The movers are coming at 9:00 am to remove my bedroom furniture and relocating it to the home of a friend who offered to store it for me after reading my last blog post (thanks Nicole!) A few more friends, along with my mother, are coming over today to help pack up the remaining odds/ends as well as clean the wonderful apartment I've called home for the last year. It's been quite a strange process as I know I get rid of most of these things to never see again. So as I put things in boxes and hand my worldly possessions over to friends, I know that I do so with a much greater reward in store. I only hope I can truly live a life worthy of that reward.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles...

First off, let me tell you that I experienced a trauma today. Yes, a trauma. I don't experience many but this one was well, let me just be redundant...traumatic. After months of knowing the day would come, I finally faced my fear and dropped off my kitty, Moxie, at her new home. It was sad, and yes, I cried. I thank my dear friend Brande for being her adopted mommy for the next however many years, but I will miss her terribly.

Now for the real post...

There have been several questions regarding my schedule over the next four to five months so I'd like to put it out here in blogosphere. I leave tomorrow for a 10-day trip to Romania. I return late Aug 22 and have until the 24th to move/get rid of the rest of my things before I leave town on the morning of the 25th. From San Antonio, I drive to Dallas to visit family before I head up to Libby, Montana. In Libby, I will spend four months at Mountainside Missionary Training through International Messengers (links for these are posted on the left.) I will be done with MMT mid-December, after which I will return to the SA area in hopes of finalizing things for the big move overseas. If all goes well, I will be completely funded by mid-late January and will leave for Romania then. As far as communication while I'm in both Romania and Montana goes, I will have internet and phone access in both places. I also have Skype, so feel free shoot me an email requesting my username if you'd like to talk! It will be good to hear from anyone and everyone while overseas...and will be a much needed pick-me-up at times, I'm sure.

So I sign off for now until I return on the 22nd. Take care of this side of the ocean for me!

Miracles Among Us...

When the Lord wants you to go somewhere, He certainly let's you know it! The fundraiser on Saturday night was a huge success. Over $7000 has been raised so far in one-time donations, and 22% of my monthly need over the next two years has been pledged. Also, it is my goal to have 35 people a week (five people a day) committed in prayer for me while I am in Romania. 14 people have responded so far, which makes my prayer goal 40% complete! And the blessings do not stop there....

Over the past few weeks, I've been balancing several things: work, coordinating the church short-term trip to Romania, sending out newsletters, and getting ready for the fundraiser. In these last few weeks, I did not had the time to make a list of furniture items I was needing to sell. However, the Lord has made sure to take care of that for me. Example #1 - One Sunday afternoon at lunch, two friends mentioned they are moving into a new apartment and will be renting a washer and dryer. I asked if they would be interested in purchasing my set for less than what they would rent and BAM! the washer and dryer are spoken for. Example #2 - That same week a coworker stopped me on the way to my desk and asked if I was selling any furniture. After sending her pictures of my love seat and couch...BAM! Another purchase made. Example #3 - About a week after the first two incidents, another coworker asked if I was selling any furniture and she claimed the last of my furniture sale.

With the majority of my items sold, I'm down to family heirloom pieces only. No, I will not be selling these, but I am looking for a cheap storage facility. Perhaps someone's house? If you know of anyone that wouldn't mind keeping an armoire, dresser with tri-fold mirror, queen-size bed, and a round wooden kitchen table for the next five months, please let me know. However, with all the blessings I've seen over the last several weeks, I wouldn't be surprised if I received a phone call or email from someone asking me if they can store my stuff.

Thank you, Lord!