Wow...big things...awesome things...have been happening here! God is amazing and blowing me away with His love and His provision for His people and more specifically my life.
Let's start with the last time I wrote. I believe I said that there were many options I was looking into for "my next step." Since the beginning of January, I feel like God is stirring in my heart to trust Him more...and to show it in all areas of my life. In a short 6 weeks, this has been tested greatly, and I am excited to say that I am learning more each day what that is supposed to look like. I still have a long way to go. After talking with someone I love about my plans next year, this person suggested that I write down all of my options with pros and cons. I had War, Youngstown, Indianapolis, and the Taylor area in Indiana as my four options...all pursing grad school and teaching. Well, after looking at my options, it was obvious that Youngstown would be the most logical choice. As soon as I was finished, I felt Jesus say, "I don't care about paper, Amanda. Trust me.."
This past weekend I went to a Young Life conference in Wheeling, WV. It is in the northern part of the state, so my roommate and I drove 6 hours to get there. I think I've talked about Young Life before, but it is basically a youth group for kids that go to a certain school or are in a certain area. Dan, Laura, and I are trying to...with God's help...get this started in McDowell. At first, I was being selfish and felt like it was a waste of money and time to go to this conference. I then prayed about my attitude, and Saturday night, Jesus spoke loudly.
Scott, the director of Young Life in WV stood up to report to the group of 500 attendees about the progress in the state this year. Then he randomly asked Laura and I to stand up and told about our story and how we are trying to get it started here. He explained the location and struggles of McDowell...some that I forget at times. Hearing him talk about the project that GOD has handed us in our laps...that we have prayed for...was so humbling. I spent a year praying about what God had for me in the terms of ministry last year. This year He brings Scott into our path and Young Life. God has given us the forming of a surplus of committee members from the community who are willing to give us full support. I realized that God has brought everything together and equipped us for everything that we could possibly need to start this amazing and exciting ministry that would impact young people to Jesus. Why would I look to anything else? I instantly felt everything I've been praying and bringing to God these past few months make sense. This currently is my ministry, and I am soooo excited about it! Then, the song "Our God" was sung. This is already one of my favorite songs. The words say that our God is the one who brings light to darkness and takes away the ashes. When He is for us, what can we fear? Nothing can stand against us. Again, more confirmation. I have to stop fearing God's plan for me. He loves me more than I can even comprehend and wants only what is best for me. I was filled to the max with this amazing and indescribable love this weekend. I know that Young Life is no coincidence but the answering of a loving God for these teenagers and for us who will be blessed by getting to share hearts with these kids. Yeah...pretty huge weekend! I am still thanking God for His voice and for allowing me to get away to hear Him more clearly. I'm not certain that God will not lead somewhere else. But for the first time, I am EXCITED to be in War and to be here as long as Jesus tells me to be here. Also, I'm incredibly humbled that He has called us to be a part of something so life impacting for the Kingdom.
Then there was today....I have been praying this week to have a Luke 9 attitude where I am willing to carry my cross daily. I know that this is a decision that I must be aware of daily...not just once or twice a week. The past two days I have prayed specifically that God would allow me to share Him with people I encounter. Well, as I was sharing with my mom the excitement of the day, I realized that He did just that! I was able to share my faith and talk about Jesus and His faithfulness with a teacher over dinner tonight. I also got to get to know another student today in 5th grade. She basically followed me around during our after school activity. By the end of the event, I had a new friend. :) She came into my classroom as I packed up my things for the evening. This girl asked me about my family when she saw my pictures hanging on the wall. She then said, "They look really nice." I confirmed that they are and how much I love them. Then, I asked her about her family. She got quiet and said, "My family is kind of a mess right now." I could tell by her expression that this was in her heart and troubling her. She then went on later to give me her phone number "in case you ever want to call me, Miss Marshall." Wow. Could I have had a better day?
I am reminded at how powerful our God is and how He longs to answer our requests when we come to Him.
Please pray for this 5th grade girl and the people that I come into contact with each day. I see that Jesus is moving, and He is giving me so many opportunities to proclaim His love! I love it! Also, please pray for our Young Life ministry. We are going to basketball games...one this Friday the 4th...to try to make those initial contacts with high schoolers. I'm looking forward to seeing great things happen as we trust on our Father to provide these kids.
I want to end on a few funny notes....
I had a "you know you are in rural West Virginia when..." moment today. The janitor said to me this morning, "Excuse my crack if you see it today. I didn't have time to put on my belt. Just please overlook it." What do you say to that?? haha!!! Also, I have been feeling frustrated a little with the amount of talking that is occurring in my classroom. I want to be the most effective teacher that I can be, so I have been racking my brain to think of ways to control this more. Well, then I started to think of last year. A typical day could consist of...a kid throwing a chair, one trying to cut my hair, crayons flying through the air and hitting other kids and myself, kids hiding in lockers, a kid screaming at the top of his lungs, or one just running out of the classroom as fast as he can.
The talking may not be that bad after all!! :)
