Friday, September 30, 2016

When the road ahead begins to curve...



God has been doing some mighty things in my life over the past years, but especially in the past few months.
https://www.goodfreephotos.com/albums/united-states/wisconsin/madison/wisconsin-madison-sunset-on-the-curving-road.jpg
"And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." Isaiah 30:21
For the last several years, He has begun making it clear to me that I need to have complete trust in Him and His plans for my life. My life is far from what I imagined, but I am learning, daily, to thank Him for being in control and for guiding my life where He wants it. I have also been so overwhelmed by His endless grace and faithfulness, even when…especially when…I fail Him! He used a very difficult student several years ago to reveal to me just how great His mercy TO ME is, and how undeserving I am. God has also been teaching me that I must find “who I am” in Him alone. For a people person, that is very hard! I love to be surrounded by people and fun, always making memories and having a good old time! But, living as a single person has been hard! Even though it’s been hard, I am constantly reminded by the Lord that being with people is not what fulfills me or truly renews my energy. HE alone can provide what I need and be enough. This, too, has not been an easy journey!

The most recent journey that the Lord has been taking me on has been the hardest yet.
In March, God used a random friend, along with several other random (to my eyes) friends and conversations to start me on a whole new path! After praying a lot and seeking the counsel of some godly friends and family, I am so excited to tell you that I will be moving overseas to teach at an International Christian School!! As I’ve prayed, the Lord has revealed each step of the way! Honestly, though, He hasn’t revealed much more than a few steps at a time! I know He wants me to go next summer/fall, but He has yet to fully give me direction on which school! Most International Christian Schools are faith-based and basically “volunteer”, which means I will not receive a traditional paycheck. However, I am not worried, because the Lord is ultimately in control! I will begin support raising soon and am fully trusting that the Lord will provide how He pleases! I love the quote from Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China, which says, “God’s will, done in God’s way, will never lack God’s provision.” I am fully confident that the Lord will provide for me every step of the way! Because of having to support raise, I was guided by several friends who have worked overseas to pursue a mission sending agency. All I have known was the IMB, so this is very new for me! For the past several months, I have been in communication with someone from TeachBeyond, which is a mission sending agency specifically for teachers who are going overseas. They have put me in contact with several schools overseas and I have been actively praying for God’s guidance as to where He wants me. I just found out that I have been accepted into the TeachBeyond program!

Here are some very specific ways you can pray for me:


  1. Pray for the Lord’s guidance and my faith to know which school to continue pursuing. Pray that I move “self” out of the way and fully seek the Lord’s will, not Hannah’s will. I have narrowed some options down, but I am still waiting on final decisions. 
  2. Pray for peace and calmness for me throughout the process. This school year is going to be busy and there are still a lot of big decisions that I have to make. I will also be having to handle lots of details in the process, and details are not my natural forte! 
  3. Pray for my heart as I begin the undertaking of raising my support. Please also pray for the men and women, girl and boys, that God has prepared to help support me! He is the great provider and will move His finances wherever He needs them, but pray that the people He urges will be sensitive to His guiding.

I am so thankful that God has put me where I am right now, but I am so excited to see what He has planned for me in the future! I have grown so much over the last several years and I am so thankful that He allowed me to have so many of you be a part of my life! I treasure you and greatly covet your prayers, as you come alongside me and intercede with me for the Father’s will to be done!

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Isaiah 6:8