God Has Ways!

So much has happened in such a short time! As some of you know, I really wanted to launch for Palawan in September, but was reluctant to do so because of my sister's upcoming wedding in December. I decided to try to raise enough money so that I would be able to come back for the wedding in the middle of my SM year. So I sent out a slew of letters and let my church family know about my situation. As I was waiting to see what God would do, He started to impress me in many different ways that I should launch in September even if I wasn't assured of a way back for the wedding.
First of all, the George's (career missionaries in Palawan) were telling me how big of a help it would be if I could come in September. Then my sister told me, "Well, if they need you that much, than maybe you should just go and let us fund raise for you to come back for the wedding." A few days after Janelle told me this I was having my devotions and reading 2 Corinthians 4:4-9. It was talking about the minds of the lost being blinded to the gospel. I told God I didn't want to contribute to that blinding. The treasure of the Good News is in us earthen vessels. I didn't want to keep that amazing treasure to myself! The beautiful character of the Father is portrayed in the face of Jesus. I wanted to go and, by God's grace, let the people see Jesus in me. The hymn "I Would See Jesus" came to my mind. "We would see Jesus, our weak faith to strengthen For the last conflict, in this mortal strife." Jesus is so beautiful!
That very night, my sister Heather and I went to prayer meeting. I had sent out a note to the church telling the church members about my situation. After we sat down, the pastor turned to me and said he had a question about my note. It had sounded like I felt God strongly calling me to go overseas now, but that if I didn't get enough money to come back for the wedding, I was going to stay here anyway. He said it seemed like just the fact that they needed me so badly was enough to know that God was calling me there. Wow! I was so amazed at how strongly God had spoken to me that night through my pastor. I thanked him afterward for the advice and talked it over with my sister on the way home. When I got home, I told my parents and grandparents about the whole incident. It seemed like God was strongly leading me to step out in faith and go NOW!
Then my grandpa asked me if I had ever thought of the option of using willing people's sky miles. He said that he and grandma had some themselves that they would be willing to let me use. To make a long story short, after searching and changing dates around we finally found a ticket that they were able to afford with their miles. God knew that I wanted to do His will and He graciously granted my heart's desire.
The reality that I am leaving for Palawan in about 1 week and 1 day has slowly been setting in more and more. I know that the God who arranged things for me so wonderfully will also go with me as I work on preparing to leave and then learn to live in a different culture. Please pray that I will be able to learn quickly how to live like a Palawano so that I can relate to them and thus more effectively share the Gospel. Please also pray for the whole project as many prayers will help to foil the devil's devices. I am so thankful we serve a powerful God! 

So training is over. It went so fast! I got home Sunday evening from the Adventist Frontier Missions training for student missionaries up in Berrien Springs, MI. It is nice to be home, but I do miss all my fellow SMs. It is comforting to know that we will all be out in the field at the same time and experiencing everything together, if not physically together.
God has blessed in my fundraising for my student missionary year in Palawan. I still have about $630 dollars to raise before I reach my goal of $5000. If possible, I would like to launch in September so that the two missionary girls will have a home school teacher. I know God is in control and will provide as He sees fit.
God has been leading my family to stay in West Virginia where we have been for the last eight years. All the other job openings in other states have been closing and God has been providing wonderfully for our needs. One huge blessing is that our family was given a new car. My sister Janelle and I's car broke down about a week ago. A few days after it broke down, someone came and asked our family if we needed a car. They didn't need one of theirs' anymore. It was perfect timing! That is just one example of how God has been leading.
I am looking forward to serving God in Palawan next year. Being at training made me so eager to get over there! Hope to keep in touch!