France Bound
God is always moving. Always shifting things. Even when we think God is taking us back a step, He is really only preparing and making a way so that we can walk into the next thing.
And my next thing, is France.
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I went on vacation with my family a couple weeks ago and after the vacation, I left questioning if maybe I was suppose to move back to Lafayette. It came suddenly and out of nowhere. I was confused because I didn't know if it was God leading me back there or if maybe it was just emotions and the fact that I missed seeing my friends and family often. I knew I needed to really pray about it and seek the Lord before I made a decision because I didn't want it to be based off of emotion or comfort. I wanted to be where God wanted me to be.
I drove back into town last Tuesday for a friends birthday and so I knew I would be busy all day and wouldn't really have much time alone. I decided that I would set aside the Wednesday to pray and really spend some time with the Lord seeking direction. I asked that God would send me direction in the form of an email, call, or text that would lead me exactly where He wanted me to be. That Wednesday morning I got a call from my sister-in-law Sarah. I stared at the phone a good minute before answering, debating if I wanted to answer. Not because I didn't want to talk to her or anything, but because I get calls from Sarah pretty often but they are usually accidental calls. I'll answer and all I will hear is Sarah talking in the background completely oblivious to me on the line. So sometimes I just let it go to voicemail. That morning however, I decided to answer, even though I really thought it was just another accidental call. She answered back right away when I said hello and told me that she just got off the phone with her friend who lives in France and said that she really needed a nanny and she had mentioned me. She said she didn't know if this is something I would even be interested in but she wanted to call and let me know. I was completely shocked but there was also an incredible peace that I felt the minute she said it. I told her I was definitely interested and had actually prayed that God would have someone call me today about where I should go. I told her that I was going to go pray and get back to her about it. I got dressed and went to the lakefront.
I prayed. I read. I listened.
And, I felt peaceful.
I called my sister back telling her that she could go ahead and send my number to her friend, Autumn.
Several calls later, everyone had prayed about it and I got the ok to go. All that was next was me coming up with the money to purchase a plane ticket. I couldn't afford one and my parents couldn't afford to help me pay for one either. It was completely in God's hands. If He was leading me to France, I needed Him to provide to funds to get there. Within 72 hours I had all of the money I needed to buy a round trip ticket. God came through in a way that completely blew my mind.
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I really expected that God would direct me between either staying here in Mandeville or moving back to Lafayette. Never in a million years did I think He would lead me back overseas, especially to France. But, God continues to amaze me. I've been thinking a lot about this and I feel incredibly blessed. I remember growing up telling everyone that I was going to see the world. It's always been a desire of mine. I remember at the beginning of this year God telling me this was going to be an amazing year for me filled with growth and fulfilled promises. And, I'm so thankful that He keeps His promises.
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I will be leaving Tuesday, September 30 and I will arrive in France on Wednesday morning.
I will be staying in the Champagne region of France, about 2 hours outside of Paris.
I will be living on a YWAM base while there.
I ask that you please partner with me in prayer as I step into this next season. Pray for me and my travels there, as I will be traveling alone. Pray for me that I will grow even more with the Lord and that I continue to learn dependency in Him. Pray for the family that I will be nannying for, that blessings are poured over them. Pray for YWAM and the ministry they are doing there. Pray for my friends and family I am leaving here, that peace would fill them. Pray for the church family I am leaving behind, that God continues to grow and bless them. Let's pray that we as Christ followers are always obedient to God's leading and willing to go wherever He takes us.