Part I - Beginning the Journey

I would say it started last summer. I stayed in Cedar Falls, took classes, and worked all the hours catering and babysitting could give me. I definitely learned a ton and grew as a woman of God but it wasn't a restful or extremely fun summer to say the least. One day while sitting on my couch in my apartment avoiding homework I began research on what I was going to do THIS SUMMER!

I eventually decided on doing Eagle Lake Camp. It was perfect! It was in the mountains of Colorado (which I love), it was PAID (my parents would like that), and it was working with kids (which is what I'm going to do with the rest of my life). This was exactly what I was supposed to do with my summer! I was sure of it. I had even talked to one of my best friends and she was thinking about it too!

For some reason though I knew I wasn't suppose to send in the application. I had it almost all filled out...but it just didn't seem right for some reason. Then Main Event 2010. Even though I was convinced I was going to Eagle Lake I knew that God wanted me to have a leadable heart and keep my options open. I had been learning a lot about listening to God and waiting on him.

One night as I was praying and spending time in the word before my bible study I felt God was telling me I didn't trust him. I began to realize that I wasn't trusting God with my finances. Eagle Lake Camp was the easy choice because all I had to trust God with was that I would be accepted. With JAX I would have to trust him with raising over $2,300 and being accepted and guidance to lead and I am currently learning much more.

So...I resisted...until encouragement came. As I was leaving for Thanksgiving break I received an anonymous card in the mail with $100 in cash in it. It said to use the money to help me do God's will for me that summer. I knew as soon as I opened that letter I was not going to Eagle Lake and I was going to trust God with more than I wanted to at that moment! God had increased my faith through this he was going to be faithful for the rest.

I ignored this and tried my best to escape the topic for the time being with my parents. Then over Christmas break I went to EDGE preview. The whole weekend was about trusting God--go figures :) I also had a talk with one of my roommates at EDGE about raising funds and how her parents weren't in total support and how she dealt with it.

After EDGE preview I knew I was going to STP.

Two verses that comes up time and time again in my journal during this time.

"Always give yourselves fully to the word of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58

I knew that no matter what I did this summer it was not in vain as long as what I was doing was for the Lord...

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you and watch over you.

Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding

but must be controlled by bit and bridle

or they will not come to you" Psalm 32:8

I knew God would be faithful to this promise of leading me as long as i sought to understand and listen to his voice. It also was reassuring that this decision depending more on God than on me.

*more to come in PART II :)