Decisions are why I have not posted in more than a month. When I came to Fort Dodge, I knew that I wanted the spiritual warfare teaching that was here. I have learned so much. Due to still paying a truck payment, I knew that I would not be able to begin traveling again right away, and I had planned to stay in the area and sit in on Pastor Smiths classes. God had even more plans than I did.
At the end of the school year, I had been asked to take over all of the kitchen duties, some care of the girls, and oversee some of other areas of the college office. At the end of May first of June, Pastor Smith met with me and some of the men who oversee the college and other ministry aspects. He asked me if I would help in the college office and Kitchen again. I told him I would since I planned to be in the area until the end of the year.
A couple weeks later, I had a counseling session with Pastor Smith, and I expressed my hope to be back on the mission field by the end of this year. I saw his countenance change, and he told me that he thought I would be here through the whole school year to work in the office and kitchen. We finished our meeting and I told him I would consider what he asked.
I had forgotten to mention two things about the college, and I wrote a note the next day. In that note, I asked for two weeks to pray and get counsel about whether to postpone my missionary travels again. During those two weeks, I spoke with three pastors, and all three said that I should stay. One pastor said, " There will always be a need on the mission field, but if you know there is a need where you are now, and if you are learning things that will help you as a missionary, then you should stay."
Because of this counsel, I will be staying through the college year here at Harvest Baptist Bible College. I will be the secretary and cook. During my time here, my goal will be to create an office procedures manual so that the next person who comes in can learn anything they need even if there is not someone else to train them.
I was also asked to teach English again, and I will begin creating an English course that will incorporate writing as good communication is the main goal of the English classes here. Please pray that God will give me the wisdom needed to make the class easy to teach and easy for the students to learn what they need to be great communicators.
During my time here in Fort Dodge, I will also be working towards the goal of raising full-time support. Because of my college duties and my foster care job, I will be limited in traveling. Please pray as I will need to send out emails and letters with a short video presentation in order to raise the support. I will also hope to do video calls to churches who will allow me to present to the people. I hope to be able to visit some churches in person as well.
My goal will be to head for England hopefully by the end of May next year. From there, I will branch into Europe. Depending on the number of missionaries who need help, I will plan for at least a year of travel before returning to the states. If I have many missionary contacts, then that time could be extended.
With the cost of living in Fort Dodge, and the need to save money for missions from the support that I hope to raise, I believe $2500 a month will allow me to cover my costs when I am stateside, and will allow me to save half of what comes in when I am traveling. Right now, I have three supporting churches and about $250 a month coming in. All of that has been going into my missions account.
My immediate needs are to pay off my truck, pay off a credit card with some medical bills on it, and but either a small property and small house/prefab building, or a polarized travel trailer for four seasons living. Please pray for wisdom as I decide how and when to purchase a home.
Since the college students are away during the summer, I joined a bus route. Last week, my partner and I met three good prospects. Please pray that they will come, that our bus route will grow, and that lives will be changed.
My parents need prayer for their health. I still have a heavy unspoken request. Please pray for my friend Joanne as she has made some decisions for her life that are leading her away from God.
Life is a journey, and it has many twists and turns. God keeps putting stops in my life as He is teaching me, growing me, and using me to be a blessing to others.
