When we started this journey a little over a year ago we knew life wasn't going to be easy, but we had no idea about all of the obstacles that we would face. All we knew was that we were going to sell our house and move to Springfield, MO so that I could go to Baptist Bible College. It was stressful trying to sell our house, quitting secure jobs, and leaving family behind. As tough, frustrating and even as heartbreaking as it was at times we've never been so close to God and never have we learned more about God's character than through theses circumstances. There were points where we asked ourselves many questions: Would we have to try and pay a mortgage on a house that we didn't live in miles away?, Would we have to give our dog away to someone we didn't know?, Where would we live in Springfield?, Who would be able to watch our daughter during the day?, What would we do if something happened to our car?, Will we be able to get jobs in Springfield?, Will we have enough money to make it this month or the next or the next?, Will this gas get us to pay day? and many other questions like these. After all of these questions we talked with each other and decided that the answers didn’t matter…We knew that pursuing God like we never had before was something that we needed to do! Like I mentioned in my previous blog I don't believe that everything always works out and we didn’t just start making a bunch of bad decisions to sell our house for a loss in a tough market, leave good jobs and family because we thought everything would work out perfectly; the honest and CRAZY thing is that we came to the point where we didn’t care what this situation did to us or for us. The best part is that even through the major trials we have faced this past year, God has blessed us tremendously. There were many times when it would have been easier to quit and just go home but we are determined to fulfill the desire that God has place upon our hearts; The desire to show people how much the God of the universe love them. We have been able to experience God in ways we would never have been able to if we were still living our comfortable lives in our nice home, with our nice jobs and with our family not too far away. God knows more about suffering than anyone else and it is our firm belief that he will meet, comfort and fellowship with you there. In hindsight we can see the blessings and “God experiences” started before we even left Kansas City and have continued.
Here are a few of the great GOD moments we have been a part of: We did sell our house, family and friends did volunteer to help with the painting and fixing of things that go along with selling a home, people helped us move (twice), our family even agreed to take care of our dog while we were gone or at least until we found a place that accepted pets, Once we moved we soon found out that there would be daycare available for while I was in class and we could live on campus with all utilities paid in an very affordable apartment, Avanti got a job after applying for months the day before school started, when money was about to run out again our home church asked us to come and share a quick testimony and while we were there they gave us a check just to show their appreciation and show that God blesses you when you act in faith, multiple times people from our home church have sought out our families and would give them money to forward to us (I can say without a doubt that without the financial support from our family and church family during this time we wouldn’t have been able to make basic trips to the grocery store.), there were even times where family members would leave money on a table or behind the medicine cabinet mirror when they came to visit, one of the most surprising gifts we received was right around January when our car needed some repairs and we had no way of paying for it a check from our home church showed up in the mail for the amount we needed to fix the car, we have found a church in Springfield that we enjoy and are were able to start serving right away, through the church we have been blessed with new good friends and the opportunity to work with students!
I could go on and on with examples of how God has surprised us and blessed us this past year; When we stop and reflect it is overwhelming to think that none of this had to happen this way and it could have been much more difficult. I am obviously not saying that things have been ultra smooth or without any problems, but we feel blessed and excited to see how God has moved in our lives. I want our friends, our family, and our church family to know how great of an impact they've had in our lives over the past year. I wish I could explain what it feels like when your prayer is answered (the way you would have hoped) or the gratitude you feel when a check from someone shows up in the mail just as you need it, or you receive a phone call from your parents saying some kid at church gave them money to give to you. We are so grateful for the friends, family, and church family that we have. There have been times when we've had no other choice, but to ask ourselves, “Is this really what we are supposed to be doing?” After looking at the last year we can answer without a shadow of a doubt. “Yes!”
