Hey bloggers!
I am so excited to be jumping on the blogger bandwagon!
Let me begin with my testimony of the last year. In August of 2008, I quit my successful job at Howard Payne University as an Admission Counselor. I knew it was my time to go and I was trusting God that he would provide a job for me in Houston with my sister, Holly, and her family. Thankfully, I am blessed with a fantastic family, and Holly, Clee, and Payton let me move in with them while I was trying to get settled in Houston. I applied to many jobs and went to several interviews, and second interviews, and even a third interview. All brought the same result, NO JOB! It was really frustrating and kind of eye-opening. In the past, if I wanted something and I interviewed for it, I got it. I cannot really remember a time that someone actually didn't want me for the job. It was definitely hard for me to get a rejection time after time. Finally, in January, I got a phone call from a battered women's shelter for a job in legal advocacy. At the interview, I was hired on the spot. I should have been thrilled, but I was terrified. This job should have been ideal. My psychology major and criminal justice minor would work perfectly in this field. As my boss was giving me an orientation of the job, I started suffering from this incredible heavy feeling. I quickly excused myself and began throwing up in the bathroom. This happened several times in the course of a few hours. I cried out for help and clarity, and all I heard was "Leave!" I couldn't leave! I had been searching for a job for over 4 months! Logically, I couldn't leave. I went back and finished my paperwork. As I went to turn everything in, the words, "I can't" came spilling from my mouth. At that moment, I wish I could have reversed time and took those 2 words back. I told them that I was so sorry for wasting their time and that I couldn't explain why, but I just wasn't right for this job. I ran to my car and started the hour and a half commute home. I frantically called my mom (working), Holly (in a bible study), and Layla (in a bible study, too). I had no one else to call. So, I basically screamed out and fought with the Lord about what I was doing and why. I heard silence. I was so confused! When I got home, I locked myself in my room and fought some more with Him. The next day after I was so emotionally drained and more lost than ever, Holly asked me if I had thought more about going overseas to do missions. Everytime I had felt the pull before, I quickly headed the other direction yelling all the reasons why I should never ever do that. This time, when Holly mentioned it, I decided to stop running the opposite way. So I started the process. It wasn't always easy and it definitely wasn't always fun. The one thing that was always constant was the Lord's hand moving so purposefully and so masterfully that I couldn't for once question that I was not on the right path. In May, I had an interview up in Virginia. It was the hardest week emotionally. I had 3 days to basically research locations while going to sessions and interviews most of the day. It was so stressful to find the job that fit me and overwhelming looking at all the different regions. Thankfully, He put wise people in my path and didn't leave me to figure all that out on my own. I am headed to East Asia to do amazing things!
I leave for orientation in exactly 3 weeks from today. I will be headed to East Asia sometime in October.
So, that is my story - check back for updates!
Uncle Andy, Emily, and I. Sweet family! I love them so much. 
