Ringing in my head

My mind hasn't stopped recently. A phrase that keeps ringing in my head when I think of my coming move is, "Obedience ALWAYS requires sacrifice". Obedience always costs you something. What a humbling experience it has been thus far to watch God speak a dream in my heart and watch Him make every provision as I get ready to follow Him.

Here is a run down of the events leading up to this move.

• In 2006 the Geralds step down from their place at Celebration leaving me wondering what was next for me (I hadn't thought of a plan past that point).
• At youth camp that summer God speaks to my heart that I will #1 go back to school to pursue my Social Work degree and #2 that at some point I would be called to work alongside the Geralds again (no idea God was calling them to Alaska!)
• January 2007 I leave to start school in Seguin (leaving Austin was HARD!!).
• June 2008 I visit Wrangell for the first time and return the following 2 summers.
• By summer of 2010 I tell the Geralds I feel like God has given me a burden for Wrangell and the SE region of Alaska. We begin to pray specifially for God's direction and timing.  By the time I leave that summer I knew God was preparing me to move I just had no idea when!
• A few months later I tell the Ortiz and Kendig fam to pray for me. As they share about the dream of Revive that God put on their heart I tell them God has called me to AK and I need them to start praying for the right timing, provision, etc.
• In March of 2011 I am blessed by an amazing couple at my church with money that allows me to make a trip to Wrangell in May prior to graduation. (This money has also coverd many of the expenses to ake the mov possible!)
• May I meet with the executive director of my future internship site and get approval to come on as a clinical intern. Door for the move is opened and in June I start grad school.
• September I get final approval to complete my final field placement in Wrangell.
• Today, I have completed half of my MSSW program and am a week away from my move.

There are SO many details, events, and provision that fill in the gaps of that outline. It is amazing to look at that timeline to watch how God gave me a word that turned into a dream that He is providing for a step at a time.

Here is where the sacrifice comes in for me. There was a time in my life when everyone and everything I loved was in one place. I've never had my heart divided like this before. Austin has and will always be considered home, but I can't deny that Wrangell has also become home to me and feel such peace and excitement as I get ready to transition there. The burden and vision God has put in my heart is strong. I know it is where I'm supposed to be in this time. God has made it abundantly clear.  Moving to Wrangell means missing out on a lot of things here in Austin. Amazing friends and family I will say 'see you later' to and lots of the everyday things that I will no longer be able to be apart of...I hate the thought of missing out on so many things and not being able to see face to face some of my best friends and my nieces & nephews anytime I'd like.

But that is ok. There are new things ahead. God has prepared me and changed me in these last few years for this reason.  I've watched several people in my life obediently respond to God's call..it is never an easy thing, but God is INCREDIBLY faithful. And it has always been worth it. Thank you especially to Matt & Jen, Ray & Chantel and Anthony & Tracy for being examples of this. I've been through so much with them and am thankful for friends who are always there regardless of where God calls us. We may not be in the same place physically, but we are still all doing this thing together. That will never change. This move is going to be challenging, but the thought of not going would be even harder.

God has provided for every step and every need and though obedience requires sacrifice...it's gonna be worth it all.