End Of A Chapter, Or End Of A Book?

     Today was a milestone in preparation of my journey. This day marked the end of classes at Sinclair Community College. As I walked out from class I felt, scared, exhilarated, a bit sorrowful, and most of all, glad to be done with ALH 104.
     The reason for feeling a bit scared is, well, Sinclair has become a home of sorts. When I needed a haven to study, relax, meet up with friends, and get Starbucks, to the main campus library I would go. It's became a familiar friend. Moving into the unknown is a bit frightful. Many memories were made at SCC, and I believe I grew up a lot while attending classes.
     I felt exhilarated because I have the opportunity of a life time. Really, how many people are able to say at twenty years old they moved across the globe to learn more about Jesus? God has blessed me beyond what I ever though possible. While serving in a different land has always been a strong calling, I always wondered if it would really happen. Now I'm getting a chance to learn how to effectively serve, share, and bless others!!! :) My hearts desire is to glorify my risen Lord by serving, and sharing Him with others, no matter what the cost.
     Sorrowful, because I'm going to miss out on so much time with friends and family. Morgan, Tanner, and Vienna will grow up so much while I'm away. Friends will move on in life. Carson will be taller then I, when I get back. Over time things change, and if I'm not around to experience the changes, it will be different when I arrive home.  Nevertheless, this is what I want to do. This is what God blessing me with.
     Never have I had a class I was so ready to be done with. ALH 104 is the most boring class I  have ever taken. As much as I love to learn new things, this class was just not interesting. So, as I walked out of class, I felt super glad to put it behind me. I felt like my IQ would start to go up, simply because I was out of the dull, time-wasting class. Yes, it really was that bad.
     I have started to wonder, is this the end of a chapter, one that may be returned to in the future, or is this the end of a book never to be opened again? I don't know what God has in store next. Maybe I will get done at IGo and finish my education, or maybe I will go serve somewhere indefinitely, or perhaps, I will go back to IGo and do an internship. Right now I have no idea what is next, and I'm surprisingly okay with that. As much as I want to be a nurse, I want to follow my Father more. Probably, I say that over and over, but its what He is teaching me, COMPLETE SURRENDER!!!

The journey begins in...

34 days!!!

Sponsorship

     This weekend at the Haiti Benefit Auction, a lot was said about sponsoring children, and different projects. Some of the sponsorship organizations talked about are Compassion International, Save The Children, World Vision and this weekend schools, IFM, Heart of Compassion, and International Fellowship Haven. Every photo of these kiddos makes my heart long to hug them and let them know they are loved. How much more must our Father feel that way when He looks down at each of us needing the love and salvation of His son Jesus. I look at those kiddos and think about their human needs, but the Father, He looks at all of us and sees our ultimate need, a personal relationship with Jesus.

     I’ve never though I would be in a position to need sponsorship. After all, I come from a middle class American family. Why would I ever have that kind of need? Well, when faced with the opportunity to attend IGo I quickly realized I had no way of paying for it, and no time to raise the required money. Nevertheless, I was certain that was where God was calling me.

     One night I decided He and I needed to have a little chat. God wants to hear what we have to say, and He wants to have to chance to answer back. So, while I was driving I started to talk. I laid it all out there, asking “Why are you calling me here and not providing for me? Why am I so excited about this and have no way to go? Why God, Why?” That night I received no answer and I went to bed feeling discouraged and confused.

     God’s mercies are new every morning! I woke up the next day, and I was ready to put hard work into this calling. When God speaks, it’s time to follow no matter what the odds look like. My day was going to be spent researching fundraisers. I have never been okay with flat out asking people for money, and knew that was absolutely not an option for me. Mom and I talked about doing a spaghetti dinner, cleaning, babysitting, bake sale, etc. That all sounded like a grand place to start.

     However, God, He had other, more wonderful, something I never would have considered, ideas. He, the most amazing person in my life, provided beyond my wildest expectations. There was a family, who felt God calling them to help me on this journey. (Every time I tell this story tears fall, God is just so faithful!) This family is living out Romans 10:15 by sending me on this journey. In the end it ended up I did need sponsored. My Father in Heaven provided in a way that I never had to ask, I only had to pray.

     There are still daily needs, and things that I have to get before I go. God is showing Himself faithful and I know He is going to continue to provide. Please pray for me and my family as everything comes together.

     My departure date is April 24^th. I will be gone 7 months, and 24 days. This equals, 34 weeks or 238 days, or 5712 hours, or 342,720 minutes, or 20,563,200 seconds, give or take a few. My arrival date is Dec 17^th.

     8ish months is the longest I have ever been away from home. God has been preparing me and my family for this day for the last few years. Every trip I have taken has gotten progressively longer. First I was gone a month, then six weeks, then two point five months, then just under three months, and now 8ish. Just as every other journey He will be present in this one too.

     Nursing school is being put on hold right now. Many people keep asking me what I'm going to do after this...I don't know. God has not unfolded that part of His plan yet. I am comfortable waiting on Him to guide me. All my life I have wanted to be a nurse, but if God has something else in mind, well, I choose to follow Him. How exciting to be able to completely trust Him for whatever is next. I'm in for the journey of a life time!!! "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD". ~Isaiah 55:8

     Currently I'm finishing up one class at Sinclair. I will be done with it March 22, and what a happy day it will be!!! :) This has not been the most interesting class. Around our house people daily hear me say "I'm going to fail this class from pure, simple BOREDOM".  Never fear, I really do have an A. The days I don't have class are spent working for Dad in the shop. Not the most enjoyable job, and I have to work to have a happy attitude about it, but its helping pay for things! I'm so thankful Dad is providing me a place to work before I go. Its hard to find a job when you are gone so much! 

More IGo posts 

1^st http://philippians4-13-bree.blogspot.com/2011/11/institute-for-global-opportunities.html

2^{nd http://philippians4-13-bree.blogspot.com/2012/01/decisionmade.html}

3^rd http://philippians4-13-bree.blogspot.com/2012/01/prayer-partners.html

Serving an ever faithful Father, 

Bree 

Airport Arrival

Here are some photos of all of us making the trip to Thailand! We are all very excited!!!! Please continue to pray for us! :) 

The luggage 

My beautiful adopted family! They are such a blessing to me! 

Checking in! The airline ladies were amazing!

Sweet girls trying to contain their excitement 

All our luggage!

Woot woot

Boarding the train to get to our gate

{Packed} in the train

At our gate

All our carry ons! :)

Loving all the activity going on outside

Lunch time

Sea-Tac Airport

Aww

My Little man

He even has a carry on jkjk

Very pleased to have LACY'S carry on

Ever moving

To and From ~ *Dayton* ~ *Seattle* ~ *Chiang Mai*

    WOW!!! Its hard to understand how fast time moves. I feel like I should still be in school waiting for the day to come when I get to travel to Washington...Let alone Thailand! We are only a few days out from departure. The house is busy with packing, repacking, and children asking how much longer. The excitement is building in each of us as we look forward to the trip ahead. Sometimes I wonder what God is going to do through us, and what He is going to do in us. From the begainng I have thought God was going to do something big in my life during this trip. Maybe this is just my excitement coming through but I'm ready nonetheless. :)

This is where I started my exciting journey! DAYTON OHIO

When I came out I fly into Seattle. Now, we are all flying out of Seattle.

We will be flying though Seoul South Korea. On the way out we have a layover that is just under 24 hours. 

We are flying into Chiang Mai Thailand!

Thailand is surrounded by Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar.

*ASIA*

     Just a bit of information about where we are going. Thailand is a country in southeast Asia. This country is around twice the size of Wyoming. The Capital of Thailand is Bangkok. Most of you have probably heard of all the the flooding going on there. We are going to be North of the capital in a City called Chiang Mai. This city has more than 300 temples to a god named Buddah; the god of the Buddhist religion. Round 95% of Thai people consider themselves to be Buddhist. Chiang Mai is one of Thailands largest provinces with a population of 1,547,085. Inside to actual city of Chiang Mai there is around 250,000 people. The weather is considered tropical and we are looking forward to warm weather and sunshine...or rain as the case with probably be. Although the dry season is supposed to be from mid November to early May. Hopefully the sun will come out and play! :) This is all the information I had time to dig up. Hope it helps you relate to where we are going to be located! :)


     We leave November the 10th and will arrive home on the 5th of December. Please keep us in your prayers! We want God to use us how ever He sees fit! We will try to keep you up to date on all the happenings!
 (http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Thailand-LOCATION-SIZE-AND-
EXTENT.html)
http://www.chiangmai.net/

WOW!

When I first found out that I was going down to Haiti I thought it was FOREVER away! Well I am quickly finding out that it is just around to corner. We leave in ONLY 19 days!! I can't believe that it is this close! Please pray for Heather and me. We are very excited but there are also things that sound scary. Also keep our families in your prayers. Just today mom was telling me that she was starting to get sad. I thought I was going to start crying. Please pray that we will have strength to face each day with a good attitude. Pray that we will be able to share Jesus with the people we meet. Please pray that I will be able to quickly learn the language and that Heather and I will both be healthy physically, spiritually and emotionally. Something else to keep in your prayers is that I will get done with school BEFORE we leave!!!!

Mom printed off our itinerary just a few minutes ago. We leave July 28, 2009 at 7:40 AM from Columbus International Airport. We will be arriving in Port Au Prince at 3:45 PM. We have one layover in Miami! Please pray for safe flights!



Heather and I