I Have Confidence

I have been thinking a bit about the future, especially as I head out to Israel today and officially end my time with Wycliffe tomorrow. I guess that is why this song (from The Sound of Music) has been in my head today:

What will this day be like? I wonder.

What will my future be? I wonder.

I've even been identifying with Maria's trepidation in this song:

Oh I must stop these doubts, all these worries

If I don't I just know I'll turn back.

Maria and I differ, however, in that I don't simply have confidence in confidence alone. I know in whom my confidence lies. He is faithful, good, and merciful. He will guide me and show me each next step as needed. What a relief!!!

I would appreciate your prayers for safe and smooth travels!

If You Are From Oklahoma

In one week I leave for Israel. I have been so blessed with visits with my various family members and being back in my hometown. After living overseas there are a couple of things that I've realized about where I'm from.

1) If you are from Oklahoma definitely be from Tulsa.

2) If you are from Tulsa definitely grow up by the river and take advantage of the river trails.

I've grown up by the river, played in the playgrounds, gone biking and running (100s of miles along these trails), and they have only improved over the years. One of my favorite additions in the past decade has been the nature statues along the paths.

My favorite statues are the wolves (which happen to be the closest to my parents' house),

And the bears a few miles down the river.

I'm training for the Jerusalem half marathon in March so I've been getting lots of opportunities to run past these guys.

A Bit Of Ice

9 years ago Oklahoma was in a state of emergency due to a massive ice storm. This past weekend another one came through town. Thankfully, it wasn't nearly as damaging and so we were left with the beauty that an ice storm can create.

7 - A Number of Perfection

Next month I will/would have been with Wycliffe for 7 years.

When I was 9 I told my mom that I would grow up to be a missionary in Africa.

I think I originally thought that that calling would last longer than 7 years.

It's not even that that calling has ended, but the face of it definitely is changing in ways that I do not yet fully understand. Beginning next month I will no longer be a missionary with Wycliffe. (I first wrote about this here: Upcoming Changes)

In the Bible, 7 is a number of perfection. God even rested on the 7th day of the week. While I didn't originally think that I would be with Wycliffe for only 7 years, God has given me great confidence that it is time to leave and strike out in a different direction. He even allowed me to finish the primary projects that I was working on before I left Tanzania (A Bunch of Checkmarks).

I still don't know in what direction I'm headed exactly but I have absolute trust that God will continue to lead me and direct me. He hasn't let me down once yet.

There is something that I do know about what is coming my way...I'm headed to Israel on January 30th. Some friends are studying in Israel and need a homeschool teacher for their kids. My background with Hebrew, having lived in Jerusalem, and being interested in education made me feel comfortable volunteering my services.

I am truly looking forward to this adventure and believe that by the time it ends (June/July) God will have shone a light on the next step that I'm to take.

Happy New Year!

A year ago I was spending New Years in New Zealand. This year, Southern California. I didn't set out to circle the globe but that is what I did. Praise God for giving me such wonderful traveling blessings!

So, happy New Year from California where I am getting to spend time with my brother, sister-in-law and their two kids!

One of my highlights thus far was teaching Kilian to make marshmallows. He did a great job and the peppermint marshmallows are now being thoroughly enjoyed by all!