Time of waiting

Raising support is a funny thing. You have so many expectations of how you think it is going to go but it never really goes that way. God likes to test you on so many levels. Raising support brings up so much sin and dirt in your life that you think to yourself "What the heck is going on?!?!" You are placed in a position where the only thing you can do is rely on God. Another great thing that he likes to spur on you in a little thing we like to call waiting. Ughhhhhhh it stinks! It never goes the way that I want it too!

This being my third time raising support you would think that I would understand what it is like to wait. My first intern year, I only had 25% of my support with one week left to raise and the rest of it came in then. My second intern year I had 60% of my support with two weeks left and it came in. This time around when I started raising support in August, I was hoping and praying that I would be done in October. October passed and I thought I would be done in November. That passed and then I was hoping and praying for January. Well look where we are now...January and I am currently at 45% of my goal. So far God has not come through on my timing :) Apparently he has a much different plan. But three things are true, God has called me to this ministry, he has his own timing, and he provides!

This is a different season of my life. I have basically been doing ministry with Cru non-stop for the last six years, full time the last two. And now that has all come to a halt. With that said, it doesn't mean ministry has stopped. This is a different season where I am learning different things and doing ministry in different ways compared to what I am use too. I am using the skills and gifts that I have in different ways and learning new things about them. I have actually come to really enjoy my time here at home while raising support. I know God has a plan with this time and I might not necessarily know why it is panning out this way or this long, but he does have a plan. And right now it isn't like anything any of us are expecting.

With all that said, here are some answers to some questions you may have or that have been asked of me. Raising support right now is what I am doing with my time. Once I reach 100% of my goal, I will return to PA. The money you are giving is still going to me in my Cru staff account. I am hoping and praying to return in March or at the very lastest the end of the semester. Outside of support, I have been volunteering at my church's coffee shop, helping out with my church's worship team and planning for the new year, so I am doing ministry while I am home and learning a ton from others through these things.

Will you join me in praying for me to be done raising support by mid-March? Also if you would like to help more, I can always use referrals. People you know who might be interested in hearing about my ministry with Cru. I have letters that you could give them and I can give them a call after they receive it, or we could have a small group dinner where you invite them over for dinner and I come too and we eat and talk about ministry.

Thank you for your support and prayers! I can't wait to start utilizing this blog more!