A year ago I was at home in Spokane completely uncertain about my future. I just got home from my DTS, had possible aspirations of grad school or working in a nonprofit or traveling and seeing the world, but I had so many options that I was left doing nothing at all. I was still stuck in the residual habits of depression that clung to me throughout my senior year of college. During DTS I found a lot of freedom from that deadly disease, but once I was back home it was hard to keep the unhealthy patterns at bay.
After a few months of job searching, I was hired to work for the YMCA, with their school age care program, where I worked for the next eight months in three different locations. Two different elementary schools with the craziness of summer camp in between.
About the same time that I was hired at the Y, I started applying to join staff with Freedom 61. I saw an opportunity to follow so many of my heart's desires and couldn't resist such an offer. Little did I know how much God would grow me in the process from when I started applying till now, only a week away from moving to Riga, Latvia.
Throughout most of the spring and summer months, I often just lived day to day barely able to find the energy for even that. I was in constant survival mode, just doing enough to get by. I don't know how people manage to work full time jobs all the time, working 40 hour weeks throughout the summer was one of the most exhausting things ever. Of course it was also outside and with tons of crazy kids in the sun all day, which may have been a contributing factor.
At the end of July I had the opportunity to go to China for two weeks, which was such a wonderful opportunity to see another part of the world and how God is continually working. We taught English and loved on kids, played games, sang songs, danced and laughed. It was a beautiful thing.
Then back to America. Upon returning to the States a week into August, I was convinced that I was going to buy my plane tickets, finish raising my monthly support, then move to Riga mid September. But God clearly had other plans for me. Through a humbling series of counsel I decided to stay in the States a little while longer. I accepted another position with the Y for a few months in the fall and began a new internship at my church.
The next four months flew by. In my internship I learned more about counseling, especially from a Christian perspective. I was able to take my knowledge about Psychology and intertwine it with theology, and see the connections between faith and healing. During the internship I also received some counseling. Finally in a place where I could safely process the many hurts and ups and downs throughout my life. I learned the importance of being open and honest and gained a greater trust in the sovereignty and compassion of God throughout history and even through my short 23 years.
In learning and growing these four months I know I am far better equipped for the work God has called me to in Latvia than I was before. God's timing is always a little different than ours, but thankfully he knows what he is doing far better than we do.
And now I am all packed and in DC for a week before heading to Riga on January 6th. It's still a little surreal. But God is so good. Just under a month ago I had all of my support raised. I finished up my job at the YMCA, celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas, packed up all of my things to either put in storage or in suitcases for Latvia, said lots of tearful goodbyes, then got on a plane and here I am!
Such a year it has been, I can't wait to see what 2015 will bring. It is a wonderful thing to be able to anticipate the joys ahead of me, even though I know there will be challenges, God has been healing my heart and I know that it has all been in preparation for that which is in front of me.
