Reason #1: Its incredible how busy I have been since graduation. I am currently serving as the Youth Intern at Bethel United Methodist Church along with Emily. However, we don't have a youth minister right now. So we are kind of running things. Its a lot of pressure, but it is going great! I am absolutely loving working here this summer alongside Emily and it definitely is encouraging me in my heart that Youth Ministry is something I could wind up in somewhere down the road. We actually just got back from our beach retreat, and it was absolutely incredible! We had a lot of fun and the BUMS really bonded together. Below are a few pictures....
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Our Group outside of Medieval Times! The Yellow Knight!
Adult domination at the Jello Straw Game! (with some help from a spoon). :)
The coolest and most fun intern I know, Emily! We call this one, Magnum. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have Emily working alongside me this summer. She is awesome!
Our group outside the Illusions of Magic Show! It was so much fun!
Reason #2: I have also put a delay on writing this blog for another reason. Its cause I haven't had a job. I've been searching and searching since January for jobs. I interviewed at 14 different schools. God really tested my patience on this. I had honestly almost given up hope on finding a teaching job and was ready to start trying other options. But, God's timing is perfect, and I am proud to announce that I do have a teaching job for next year. I will be teaching Special Ed Resource at an Elementary School in Ladson, SC. I cannot wait. I will be living with my best friend Joey in Charleston, and it is going to be absolutely awesome. I have no one to thank other than God for this job, because here is how it happened.
As I mentioned before, I had kind of given up hope for a job. Getting rejected by 13 schools is hard. So a couple of weeks ago while on my family vacation, it was a Saturday night, and I went for a walk by myself on the beach. Just to kind of clear my head and think some things out. While on this walk, I prayed out loud to God saying "God, Im tired of waiting. I just want a job. So here, I turn my job situation over to you. But I wish the right school would just call me Monday morning..."
I stopped right there. I wasnt sure if it was right to make this kind of demand to God. But God answers His prayers in His timing.
Monday morning, 8:45 am, my phone rings. Sure enough, its a school in the area I want, wanting to interview with me. I was just in shock. But of course I took the interview. I thought back to Saturday night, could this really be the school? I go interview, and it goes great. I loved it. So I once again played the waiting game. I went on the beach retreat with the BUMS, and had kind of forgotten about it. After a busy first day at the beach, I have a voice mail from the personnel director. I couldn't believe it. I called him back first thing in the morning, and was officially offered the job and accepted it immediately.
Isn't God's timing incredible? I had reach the lowest of lows, ready to give up on teaching. But God provided for me. He wanted me to turn the situation over to him, and I finally did. It took 6 months for me to give up my job situation to God. But I did, and it paid off. I couldn't be happier. God really tested my patience, but it was a lesson I needed to learn and I know I will be exactly where I am supposed to next year. Ill be moving down to Charleston August 4th after I wrap up my summer internship here with the BUMS.
There was a scripture that a friend of mine shared with me that really helped me through this situation.
Romans 8:28"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
I wasn't really sure what my purpose was. I had debated between teaching and youth ministry, and wasn't really sure where I was heading. But hearing this verse helped keep me on track, to fully trust in God, that as long as I loved Him, and trusted in Him, he would guide me where I was supposed to go. I had lost trust in God. But he guided me back to Him to put my full trust in him.
I would also like to thank all of you that have prayed for me and supported me through this time. I honestly can say I wouldn't have made it without each and everyone person who prayed for me. Thank you all so much. I am very excited about where my life is heading and I cannot wait to start this new phase in my life. August 4th will be here before I know it!
