Homecoming (Re-cap)

The past  few months have been some of the best of my life traveling with my friend Tim. From Bangor, Maine, all the way to Redding, California, then back to the East Coast to Florida, which was all in December!

On January 11, 2016 Tim and I traveled to Paraguay.  There our goal was to find a "live-in" serving position among the orphanages or children's homes. Shortly after arriving, Tim had to be rushed to the hospital due to a very serious UTI.

On the second of the three days in Asunción where Tim was receiving meds, we were told by the director of the home (whom we were planning on staying with the entire time in Paraguay) that he and his wife needed to leave the country for several weeks to tend to their son in Argentina who suffers from cancer… and on top of that, there was major construction going on at the home, so he asked if we could come back in April when the construction would be finished.

We were now back to square one, while now, in a foreign country…

The Lord provided a short stay at a local pastor's church in Asunción. We were able to share testimonies and spend the day with the children's home there at this church. Tim was able to minister from his testimony with their young adult community during that weekend.

Soon after that we returned to the original girls home for 4 days where we implemented teaching English. Tim would teach and I would have games that would implement what they learned the previous day.  

After returning to Asunción to gather our things from the pastors house that we stayed with previously, we came to Areguá. We stayed with a family that had taken Tim in previously while he was here. But this would only last a few days.  They expressed the desire for us to stay with them but their schedules wouldn't allow it.  

So yet again, we needed to move. I was beginning to have fear crawl inside my mind. "What the heck is happening God? What do you want me to learn from this?"  There was no answer.  I didn't know what to do other than trust.

We found a small apartment/hotel in this small little town for $150.00 per month.  This would become our new home base. From here we could still connect to others.

Since being in Areguá, we have connected with CFA, the largest church in Paraguay.  I have also been told that it may be the largest in South America.  

We have prayed for people and their illnesses. Legs have grown. Friendships were made.  I believe now that God had bigger plans for us than staying with one children's home for our whole trip.

I was able to go on the radio. I shared about my story of surviving Shaken Baby Syndrome and how Jesus desires is to rid ourselves of all insecurities while also encouraging everyone listening that if I could survive for a purpose than that means that you have a purpose too.  

On top of the attack on Tim’s life in the beginning of this post,  we have also encountered spiritual attacks, both physically and financially alike.

I often would wonder how I would know when I was heading in the right direction when it came to my faith walk.  Then one day the Spirit told me  that; "Usually, the devil will resist you in the areas that you are moving appropriately in."  

That gave me all the confidence I needed for this trip. It told me that we were doing the right things and making the right moves.

Before coming on this journey.  I had done some math as to when I should come home to return for work.  Every year my job hires and rehires for that season. I had just finished my second season with this company.

I had figured to come back in May. That would be the tail end of the hiring process.  But 42 days into this 4 month journey, I found out that they were hiring early to pick up slack from last year among other things.  

I discussed this with Tim and we decided I’d come home in mid-April instead of mid-May, making my journey 3 months instead of 4. A week later I found out that the hiring was over and I had lost my position at this company.   

A little shell-shocked, I needed to think fast.  I decided to come home even earlier so I could procure a new job. It is essential because Tim and I feel a call to England and Germany these next two years.

I will be leaving Paraguay the 11th of this month to obtain a new job. While in the states, I will be coordinating with those that are willing to help us send some essentials to the girls home that we briefly served with and that Tim will be continuing to serve with from April until August.

Thank you all for your prayers and support.  Just knowing that there are people that are in agreement with what you are doing makes all the difference in the world and it builds confidence to conquer our fears and gather nations before our father.

Isaiah 1:17…

Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?" I said, "Here I am. Send me."

Isaiah 6:8