A Step in Faith

After my devotions this morning I realize I need to move forward. I know God has called me, I believe this is His timing and I need to step out in faith and believe He will supply all my need. I am asking for prayer for a "sending" organization or church and that doors would remain open as long as I am walking in His leading.

I've hit a wall...

I am not sure how to move forward. I do not have the organization to direct me and am not sure about how to handle finances. Please pray with me that the Lord will open a door in this area.

Skype!

I just spent 4 hours on Skype, talking to my connection in France. I am hoping to go this January and begin language training in January as well. There is much to be done, a lot of paperwork, visa, registration, housing, etc. And, I still need to raise the funds I will need. The pastor in France is asking for a 1 year commitment. I have no problem with this as I hope to stay in France indefinitely.

I am not sure how I will handle finances since I am no longer going under the organization I was originally with. I need to pray about this. Also, I have been told that I will be responsible for the taxes on any contributions that are claimed as tax deductible by the person giving the contribution. I am assuming I will need additional funds to cover the taxes. I need to find more information in regards to this but I'm sure the Lord will show me what needs to be done.

This opportunity in Lyon seems so perfect. The French pastor told me today that he is also ministering to a group of about 20 near Geneva. These people are very hungry for the word and they currently are having a lot of difficulty in worship. He would like me to help with that effort as well. He also told me there is lower-cost housing near the university. This would give me the opportunity to build relationships close to the university as well.

If you are reading this, please pray for me...that the Lord will open the right doors, help me to get through all of the red tape, and provide the funds I need to accomplish what He has called me to!

An open window!

In early August of this year, right after I got home from Michigan, I sent out an email to contacts in France asking for help, telling them I was looking for opportunities to serve and could they help me. I heard nothing back.

Then, late in August, I received a reply. Calvary Chapel in Lyon is a new church plant. They are a very small fellowship with a need for a worship leader. It doesn't matter if the person can even speak the language very well yet (however they would have to learn). There are French courses offered at the local University. The next semester starts in January. Housing expenses could be shared. I would need a student visa which I could probably only get for a 6 month stay since I am starting mid-year.

This is what I have prayed for. An opportunity to live among the people, learn the language and I would even get to minister in music!

Change is in the air...

In July of this year I began to sense an urgency to move forward again. I planned a 5-day trip to Michigan to pick up my daughter (who I hadn't seen since Christmas). Once in Michigan, I had a chance to relax and breath. There is a group of young women (who were in Michigan) that I have become friends with. They asked what was going on with my plans for France. I told them, "I have to get out of my job, it is too overwhelming and I have no time or energy to pursue anything else". It was so clear to me at that moment. I didn't know how this would happen. My job, though stressful, paid me very well and I knew what I was doing. To try to find another job would be time consuming and, even if I could find a new job in this economy, it would take me 6-9 months to get up to speed. I didn't want to invest myself or my time in another job. I needed to go to France. Two days later, I received a call from my boss (the President/CEO of my company). My office was closing and I had no job. It was awesome! I was so excited. I didn't know what the Lord was doing, but He was doing something!

How to transition

My desire to go to France has never dwindled. I felt as though I was marking time, just treading water. I was very busy at work. My job was very demanding and I worked long hours with lots of stress. It was all emcompassing. When I would think of France I was always challenged by the question of how to move forward. How does one transition from working and paying rent and bills to going on the field? How much would it cost to live in France? What about Visas?

I had decided that for the time being work was where the Lord had me. I decided to try to be used by the Lord wherever He had me. I decided to take each day as it came at work and try to be a witness for Him there. I sometimes did well but sometimes allowed work to overwhelm me and failed miserably. But I learned a lot.

I have learned in my walk with the Lord through the years that He is seldom in a hurry. He does have a plan and sometimes that plan includes waiting. It seemed to me at that time that it was a season to wait even though France was always in the forefront of my thoughts.

Questions and closed doors...

Much time had passed since my initial trip to France. I had applied and been accepted into a French missions organization. The next step was for me to begin training. I was not at peace in moving forward in the training and could not understand why. There was nothing about the group, no red flag, that warned me this was not the right organization for me. Yet, I still did not feel at peace. Then a series of events happened which dramatically impacted my personal life. Upon reflection, I later realized that it would have been tragic, had I been in training in Illinois when these things had occured.

Then, I again began to move forward with plans of training for June of this year. I spoke with the organization to clarify where in France they felt I could be used and came to find out that the situations in France had changed and there were, at this time and possibly for some time to come, no opportunities in France. It seemed the door to France had closed...