Just As Brave

Many of my friends, and actually many of the people I have met taking care of paperwork for this trip, have told that I'm brave, crazy, or both.  Crazy I may be; bravery isn't really my thought.  I'll admit I'm a little scared, but I know that I am forever in the hands of the Lord.   With His love, what have I to fear?

The brave ones are my parents, the rest of my family, and my dear friends.  I know that sometimes it's much harder to let the people you love go forth and pursue dreams and callings. I know the fear for their safety, the fear of how they'll change, the fear that they won't come back.  One of the greatest challenges in life is to handle change with grace and strength and hope.  The other is to lay aside your own wishes for those you love and champion their desires.

Many friends have moved away, and I'm guilty of sometimes burdening them with my selfish desire for them to stay.  Don't be fooled, as excited as I am, it's hard to go.   Thank you for not trying to stop me!  Thank you for being so incredibly supportive!  I am truly blessed.

~ Redeemed

New Adventure Awaiting!

  So I've been searching for a position that would prepare me to enter the field of relief and development work, and a couple of weeks ago, I was accepted for an internship in Moldova.  I'll be working with CAMED (Christian Agency for Micro Enterprise Development).  For more specifics on CAMED check out www.camedministries.org.

  The organization provides microloans and small business loans, business training, and spiritual enrichment.  My assignments will involve preparing the reports, visiting the entrepreneurs and writing out their stories, and helping with the business seminars.

  Micro enterprise organizations provide integral funding for entrepreneurial individuals in developing countries.  In developing countries, individuals face many challenges including the absence of a credit history, minimal business training, and various difficulties in acquiring a business license.  These hurdles, combined with the basic desire to provide for one's family, can create an environment where black market operations, human trafficking, and drug dealing thrive.  The goal of micro enterprise organizations is to provide the means for individuals to operate legal and sustainable businesses. The funding provides the necessary assets for an individual to start his or her business, while the training provided assists the entrepreneur in effectively managing his or her business.  As individuals are empowered with self-sufficiency, the economy of the country as a whole begins to grow as well.  The beauty of this growth is that it is based on the creativity, determination, and hard work of the country's own citizens.

I'm very excited to be heading out on this new adventure.  I can hardly believe that its only been two weeks since I found out about it.  It feels as though I've been preparing for so much longer.  The most incredible aspect though is God's grace in providing this opportunity.  Since last spring I've been wondering how my heart for missions and head for business would come together, but God already knew!  He just asked that I remain faithful to following Him.  A mustard seed is tiny, but with faith the size of a single mustard seed He will do great things.  I've had plenty of doubts and questions, but His grace and His faithfulness have never failed.  I know the Lord has even greater plans and adventures for me and so much more to show me of His character, but it starts with a willingness to surrender, to wait, and to let Him make the plans.

Oh, wait, I was independent?

This summer has been a steady adventure.  Along with the constant search for a job, my "discussions" with my dad over whether I'm using the best methods to look for jobs, or my own struggle to decide what exactly I am interested in, most immediate, most dramatically different aspect of this summer came with moving back home.  

It hasn't been the easiest thing in the world to move back in with my parents.  My mom turned my room into a study when I moved out, reasonably since I took my furniture to the house I rented at school, and I won't let her go through the trouble of rearranging the house to bring my furniture back in.  Its my way of reminding myself that this is temporary, and I will get a job somewhere soon.  

Having been away at college and been working and spending time with my friends, I forgot some of the routine aspects of living with parents.  For example, my mother sings and whistles in the shower, she goes to sleep really early, and she wakes up really early (and expects the rest of us to do so too).   Laundry is going almost constantly.  And they actually separate the lights and the darks, a rarity for me when I was at school.  My dad actually stays up as late as I do, or maybe its vice versa.  Most nights my roommates were asleep way before me.  Oh, we actually eat meat other than chicken.  I didn't get too creative with meat at school.  Chicken was foolproof.  

One night since I've been home, Mama was annoyed at Evan and drilling me on where he was and what he was doing.  I'd only seen him for a short while that day, but I didn't understand why it was such a big deal if he was at a friend's house swimming.  I forgot that highschoolers, yes even recent graduates, actually check in with their parents!  Honestly, I just haven't thought about calling to tell them where I was, what I was doing, or what time I'd be home.  Pretty sure they wouldn't have welcomed phone calls at 2 a.m. telling them I'm headed home from a friend's house.  

Basically, I've realized that I was actually rather independent.  And while for now I'll enjoy not having a rent payment, utilities bill, or groceries to worry about, I loved living on my own and am looking forward to the time when I will be able to again.

Look Ma, no desk!!!

Within the next two weeks, most of the schools in my area will have started back, my brother will begin his first semester at college, and my alma mater will resume classes with a whole new group of students...but not me.  It's a very strange feeling to realize that for the past FIFTEEN years of my life, I have been in school, and for the first time ever, I'm not returning to a desk this year.