2013

(note:  I started this on January 2.  It was, and likely still is, a bit rambling, so I spent some time editing and narrowing the focus of the post)

Wow.  Here I sit, on January 2, 2014, typing a blog from my parent's home in Iowa, reflecting on what a year it has been.  In these reflective posts, many people reflect on the past year with positive nostalgia, however, I must admit that 2013 was not an easy year.  It was a very full year.  Much too full to be able to fit into a blog post.  It was a year of transition for me, with much of what happened wrapped up in that, so I will focus this post on my decision to stay in Prague.

On January 1, 2013, I met with a supporter at 7am, got on a plane, and headed back to Prague.  I remember contemplating the new year and what it would all hold.  I knew my time with AIA was likely coming to an end, so I was in a quandary as to what to do next.  All I knew going into 2013 was that my STINT with AIA ended at the end of April and I had enough money to last me through the Multisport Kemp in August.  So I began to look further into graduate degree programs.  For whatever reason, I did not feel as compelled to enter graduate studies as I had in the past.  The desire is still there, but I feel like that is something that is further down the road.

So I started to look at ministry options.  I prayed a lot.  I honestly had no idea what I was going to do next.  Long term, I think I have an idea of where God wants me, but the short term steps to get there are not as clear.

Deciding to stay required that I trust God on a whole new level.  I had to find an organization to work with.  Eventually I settled on Alongside Ministries International.  The transition between AIA and AMI took a lot longer than I had anticipated.  Through it all, I had to trust God to provide for me.  I had money to last me until the end of August, but I wanted to stay and coach the junior football season and I wasn't accepted by AMI as a missionary until the end of September.  By God's grace, and with the help of some close friends and family, I was able to stay and do ministry right up until my departure on November 9.  God provided. 

The bottom line is I decided to stay because I did not feel called elsewhere.  And I think this is an important point to mention, because often, as Christians, when faced with large decisions, we seek God and His will for our lives, which is good.  Until we spend so much time seeking that we spend no time actually living in the present.  We become obsessive about the future.  Big decisions can paralyze people.

It was an issue of faith for me.  Did I have the faith that God had a plan for my life, despite no clear calling to stay or go?  I think it is important to take steps and then trust God to use them.  Pray.  Seek God.  And then act.  This can be a huge step of faith for some people.

My prayer for 2014 is that God would honor my decision to stay in Prague.  I am a bit nervous about staying.  Basing what could possibly become several years of ministry on not feeling called elsewhere is not something I would have done two years ago.  However, I am excited for what God has in store for ministry in Prague in 2014!