New Beginnings!

Crazy how last year I had very few posts...I had a crazy summer and a jam packed semester! My apologies to my friends that I dropped off the grid. I hope to do more posting this year however.

So snap shot into this past year...I worked all summer at Discovery Ministries (godm.org CHECK IT OUT!!!) and fell in love with this ministry. It is a recreational outdoors ministry and camp ground that focuses on families, and 5th grade through adulthood. My first day in staff training was learning how to tie knots for rappelling and rock climbing. SUPER uncomfortable as I had never done either. BUT...I fell completely in love with the recreational activities such as rock climbing, caving, rappelling, canoeing, group initiatives, orienteering, etc. in just days of learning. I became a Wilderness Instructor Intern this summer and taught the campers we had come along with the fantastic staff at DM (affectionately Discovery Ministries). God taught me so much at this ministry; it was challenging and the most wonderful place I've ever been.

  While at DM on July 19th, my boyfriend Robert, proposed to me!!!!!! We're getting married April 5! Super close! :) He surprised me because I didn't know when it would be happening. He had a couple, Jo and Jeremy, lure me out to a place called Chalk Bluff that overlooks the Jacks Fork river and there he had set up two camp chairs on a blanket, with a candle and sparkling cider. I was told it was a surprise date for Jo. :) As we were looking at the river, with a light rain sprinkling, I heard a guitar, turned and saw Robert walking down singing "I'd Rather Be with You" by Josh Radin. He sang and played, wonderfully...I LOVE listening to him sing...and then he knelt and asked me to marry him. :) It was PERFECT! So incredibly blessed by my Father with a man that loves Him more than me and that is a good man that reminds and shows me more of God every day.

  Flash forward a couple weeks...Robert left for Grass Valley, CA for four months to work at Christian Encounter Ministries (christianencounter.org) as an intern. The ministry is for at risk teens and college age that are needing to refocus and work through life. It is an incredible ministry that Robert has fallen in love with. They work outdoors around the ranch, go to school on site, and have mentors and counselors available. It is a gorgeous location and the people there are amazing. A lot of good and kingdom work is done through the ranch and I'm excited that Robert got to be part of it! He went on a 14 day back packing trip in the Seirras...seriously, who wouldn't enjoy God's creation??? :)

   Then........... while Robert was in Cali and I was  in Missouri at school, Discovery Ministries contacted Robert about coming on staff as the Office Manager full-time, indefinitely. DREAM come true and ANSWER to prayer!! Robert had told me when we first met that he wanted to work at DM full time and after I had worked there this summer, I wanted to go back desperately. We talked and talked and prayed so much and have continued to do so, but we knew soon after praying that this was where God was leading us. So we told DM yes and thus began our journey of support raising as we are required to raise half of our salary. God has begun blessing our efforts and this has been a new adventure of trusting God and that he is truly leading as it's hard and long with support raising. Robert starts April 20, and I start May 19 as a second year intern. We are beyond excited and looking forward to being back at DM and with the people and community we love.

   Also, I finished up college!! WOOT woot! My last semester was stressful but super great! It's weird to be done but good. :)

 Now we are still support raising and wedding planning and working. It's crazy...but such a good time. Currently, we are at 18% funded for DM! We are trusting that God is wanting us here and if so, he will make it happen. :) We are also doing pre-marital counseling which has provided some extra time with a close friend and officiant of our wedding and also time for Rob and I to step back and focus on different areas within our relationship. We love figuring out life and what it looks like together and are extremely thankful that God is ever with us.

 Please pray for us as we continue to support raise and follow what God is has put on our hearts! Until next time, may God grant you grace and peace!