hope for tomorrow... and for this summer :)

I am excited about where the Lord is going to take me this summer.

I had the privilege this weekend to meet and chat with a wonderful woman named Mrs. Kathy Causey. We were discussing possible plans of spending the summer as a missionary at a children's home in Guatemala called HopeForTomorrow. Please, let me share with you the story of how I randomly "stumbled across" this opportunity...

It's fall semester 2009, and LSU tells me that I am required to take a final English composition class if I ever want to graduate and get a degree. Ok, that's cool, no big deal. Let me just choose a random class from the 110 sections of English 2000 that LSU offers. Alright, I've got it... English 2000 with Brigitte McCray, section 15. Our assignment for the whole semester is this: write one 15-page research paper on ANY topic of your choice. Naturally, I chose something I was interested in/passionate about: adoption. After doing extensive research well into the month of October, I realized that I wanted a quote to start my paper that said something to the extent of, "the children of today are our hope for tomorrow." So like every intellectual college student, I typed it in on Google. And guess what website was the first in my list of results. :)

As I read through the information presented on the website, I sent an email just letting them know I was intrigued by/interested in their ministry. I told them that I was looking for a place to serve this summer, but I mainly just wanted to know more about what they do and why they do it. That was at the end of October.

First day of fall finals week (Monday, December 7, 2009). I am sitting at my desk taking a small study break to write a prayer in my journal. Here's the last thing I wrote that afternoon:

"Also, I want to continue to pray for this summer -- plans, where You want to lead me. I want to be where You have already planned for me to be. Please show me where, doing what, in Your time. I am trusting You for summer plans. My summer is YOURS. I am altogether Yours, all my days. Please use me to bring glory to Yourself."

Jesus isn't kidding when He says,

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

-John 15:7

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

-Matthew 7:7

And Martha speaks from experience when she says,

But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.

-John 11:22

This is what happened to me that day: the Lord gave me what I asked for. I asked for Him to show me where He wants me, in His time. And He answered. I am SO thankful; this led me to genuine worship of the living God I serve, that meets my needs AND provides for the things I ask. I guess His timing was just right then. That VERY evening of December 7, I checked my email and had a message from a man named Kenneth Sese, the on-site missionary at HopeForTomorrow, whom firstly apologized for the lengthy response time (he had a good excuse... I totally forgive him. ;), and secondly said that they were interested in having me this summer. So now, here I am today, a little over two months later, and I got an email from him this afternoon saying this,

Rebecca,

Wonderful to hear from you. I’ve already heard from Kathy and Brenda regarding the meeting and both were very excited. Kathy had very good things to say about you.

Basically, we are a go!

Woahie.

Nothing is set in stone. No dates, lots of questions, and much still to do. But it looks like I may be serving the Lord this summer in the small country south of Mexico at a freshly-started children's home. And I couldn't be more thrilled. :) I believe in God's sovereignty. (Romans 8:28) I know it wasn't a coincidence that I got in this one particular English class, received an assignment, chose adoption, googled a quote, and found this ministry. And I believe that God is sovereign in ALL He does, to bring glory to Himself. And I desire to bring glory to Him by fulfilling His will.

I deeply desire to be in God's will. Daniel brought up a good point tonight when he said, "don't you think God desires that you know His will for your life?" Proverbs 16:9 says, "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." So I am making these plans, with the help of God, and trusting in Him, so that He will direct my path. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

But honestly, I still can hardly believe it!! :)

So now I would like to ask you, blog reader, to please pray for me as I continue to prepare to serve the Lord this summer, possibly at HopeForTomorrow, with some beautiful, sweet hispanic children.

And since I am taking this opportunity to update the blogger world, I would also like to share that plans are in the making for the annual LSU BCM mission trip to Mexico. As far as I know, I am going to help lead a team, but I am still waiting on Steve and Meagan to tell me exactly where. So I will keep you posted on that as I get more information. Also, dnow coming up this weekend, SENT at FBC Swartz, and I am really looking forward to spending my weekend discipling and chatting with sweet 10th grade girls. Spanish classes are going well, and family group is rockin'. :)

Finally, I will update you with some pictures for your viewing pleasure:

These sweet redheaded friends of mine share with me in our love for Haiti. And we have joined together to raise money and awareness for Heartline Ministries after the earthquake that hit Haiti in January. I love these people and their hearts.

(Walter) Daniel has recently started seminary school at NOBTS. I am glad that he is closer! But while he is very studious and works hard in his studies and spending time with the Lord and friends, he also somehow finds time to spend with me. I am thankful and blessed. :)

And finally, you know I can't update with pictures and not include one of my roomies/best friends. I am blessed to have these girls in my life. This picture was taken this morning before church. I love Sunday mornings, waking up, and going to worship with Annie and Mary.

You've made known to me the path of life.

In Your presence is fullness of joy,

at Your right hand are pleasures evermore.

-Psalm 16:11