Monday, October 30, 2006

wow.

i think it finally hit this morning that i am indeed on staff. it hit while writing letters to my mom and step-dad. somehow that made it real...well, that combined with the fact that i have been attending meetings, set up my master schedule for the week, made appointments with students and did some serious data entry regarding our chapter retreat.

but it's true. i am here. i am on staff.

the victory is HIS.

He is your praise, He is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. - deuteronomy 10:21

my mom sent me that verse this morning...and it's pretty incredible because it's incredibly true.

i like my life down here in north carolina. i am extremely pleased. yes, i miss my family and friends...but i am gaining some pretty fantastic relationships (yay for staff bonding over spaghetti and football) and i know i am doing what i was created to do.

that's a remarkable feeling, if you ask me.

my newest biblical desire: to really understand the story of esther.
my newest snack obsession: gala apples & peanut butter.
why i love living in the south: sweet tea EVERYWHERE.
amused by: the lumber yard directly outside of my bedroom window & the man driving the forklift.
can't stop listening to: jason morant

Monday, October 23, 2006

north carolina? what?

my thought today while walking around barnes & noble...

holy cannoli. i am in north carolina. i am not just visting. i live here. a little more than a week ago, i didn't think this was possible. oh my goodness. it actually happened.

.........

in february, i was hired to go on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. in march, i attended training for how to raise my budget, much like a missionary. in may, i began that process full throttle. i have spent the last 6 months back home attempting to raise 100% of my budget...it has been the most intense 6 months of my life...incredibly bittersweet...incredibly humbling...and a period in my life i will always look back on with incredible awe at what God did during those summer months...

october 15th: my deadline to reach 75% of my goal or else i would most likely not go on staff...and as of october 12th, i had 58%. it was not looking good...but somehow, God transformed my feeble thinking from "impossible" by saying, "look at what i can do, laura..."

in a matter of 48 hours...with literally just HOURS until my deadline...God provided $10,000 more to my 58%...bringing me to 89% of my budget.

the testimony is crazy-good...weaving together past hurts now used for His glory and through people i didn't think would stand beside me.

it's all a little too much to write in a blog...besides, i like hearing people's reactions to how amazing our GREAT God is through all of this.

so here i sit. in my apartment in chapel hill, north carolina...about to start work with IVCF...beginning an adventure i have been anticipating for 9 months.

it's a little surreal...i am still waiting for it all to sink in...

and so i begin my new life...and it's rather lovely.

praise God from whom ALL blessings flow