Wow!! Everything is moving at warp speed these days, and I'm just trying to keep up!
So much has happened in the past three months, I can hardly fathom it all. I am constantly amazed at how God orchestrates the details of my life! To Him be all the glory!!
Since putting my house back on the market in February, I have 3 separate offers on it!! Since the housing market has gone downhill so significantly throughout the country, I am having to sell my home for less that what I owe the bank (called a “short sale”). So the bank will have the final say on which offer is accepted. Since I am current on my mortgage payments, they really have no reason to move quickly. Banks tend to deal with properties going into foreclosure first. However, we serve a God of miracles. Please pray with me that God will move in the bank employees to process my paperwork quickly and allow me to be released from this responsibility.
The workshop I attended in February in Vancouver, WA was a wonderful experience. Eight different missions agencies were represented at this conference. All were somehow related to mission aviation. The trainers focused on teaching us how to raise capital support for our various missions. Flying Mission will be able to use that information and the tools to raise the $3 million needed to firmly establish our new station in Zambia.
Additionally, I was able to visit with people I hadn’t seen in years. It was delightful to see them again and share with them the passion God has given me for Zambia. Some people I hadn’t seen for 15 years or more!!
When I returned to work after the conference, God impressed upon me that it was time to leave my job. I argued with Him for nearly a week since my house hadn’t sold. But He reminded me that He would take care of everything. I gave my two-weeks notice on February 29 and three days later had the first offer on my house!! On March 14, I left the law firm grateful for the opportunities I was awarded as well as what I had learned there, both technical knowledge and insights about myself.
As I write this, I am in the mountains near Colorado Springs where I am attending a 3-week course on Cultural Transition and Acquisition, called SPLICE. Basically, I’m learning how to step on as few toes as possible. One of the major issues we’ve been focusing on is conflict resolution. One of the biggest reasons missionaries come home from the field is conflict with other missionaries. The training here will help us avoid some of those pitfalls. It has been a delight to be with “my tribe” of other missionaries who are preparing to leave soon. It’s been so great to see how God is working throughout the world and hear stories of how God has brought each of us to where we are today.