An Update (Better Late Than Never!)

Good afternoon, my friends!

Things have been crazy around these parts. With the coming of Spring, there comes great change. Lately, social season (as we Southerners like to call it) has begun in the Bluegrass. Everyone is abuzz with excitement over the Keeneland spring meet, hiking and climbing trips to the Red River Gorge, and just a general desire to meet up and spend time together. We're officially coming out of hibernation around here, and I couldn't be happier about the end of a long winter. Last Saturday, I enjoyed a wonderful day at the track with my friends, and I look forward to many more Saturday's like that to come. Below is a picture of Thursday's activity,  our minor league baseball team's opening game.

One of the greatest Lexington spring activities:
Lexington Legends Opening Day

Unfortunately, with spring comes a general increase in rainfall. When paired with an older house and my living in that older house's basement (I call it the basement bungalow), things can get a little wet. I came home on my lunch break yesterday afternoon to find that all of my belongings that were currently living on the floor were enjoying a little swimming party. I would post a picture, but frankly, I am embarrassed to have left so many items of clothing on the floor. Shame on me for dropping the ball cleaning wise. Perhaps this will teach me to not be a "messy" anymore. Sadly, my day will likely be punctuated with frequent trips to the washing machine carrying very heavy, very wet fabrics. If there ever was a dislike button to punch, I would do it. Now.

In other news, I have decided to start a little garden in our backyard. Since I have cut back my hours to focus more on support development and getting ready for Germany, I have been feeling a little bit more of a financial strain than usual. I am not complaining in the least, as it has been extremely beneficial to have more flexibility during the week, but money is a little tighter. As we all know, produce these days has been getting pretty ridiculous price-wise. As I am also getting no lighter weight-wise, and refuse to begin survival on ramen noodles and instant macaroni and cheese, I am beginning a little veggie garden.

My Prospectin' Pete Pickaxe

The current level of my progress.

Silly me. I thought, "How hard could it be?" Three days later, I have an almost turned over patch of dirt and weeds, plus a sore back and burning hamstrings. I'm no good with a shovel and had to go Prospector Pete on that beast. If anyone saw me, I apologize. I probably looked ridiculous. The good news is, I have several little seedlings that have germinated in the seed starter and I'm ready to get planting. The bad news, I seem to have taken on a large, time consuming job that may not be worth in the end. Cost efficient, yes. Worth the amount of time I will need to devote to it? Time will tell.

My aggressive little seedlings. The trees right there are cucumbers.

Lately, I've been feeling a little discouraged by my process with support raising. I always knew it would be hard. And it has been. The whole of becoming a missionary has been dotted with anxiety, elation, fear, disappointment, encouragement, fun, fulfillment and a bevy of other words. For the last few weeks, I would say that discouragement currently fits the bill. I have had a lot of people offer to support me lately, and it always puts a smile on my face when someone shows interest in this ministry! The problem is, a lot of people don't come through. I am never upset or angry about this, as I understand that life gets in the way and things happen. As I said, I am currently parting flood waters in my basement...but I don't always know how to handle this situation. Do I bother people that have offered their support with phone calls and texts asking whether or not they've filled out their pledge cards? Do I accost them in social situations by cornering them with a smile and asking if they still feel a call from God to invest (these are clearly sarcastic options)? I am very scared to permanently damage my friendships or to turn people off from the Church by asking too fervently. Any missionaries out there with answers? I am open to them.

But just as often as I have been discouraged, I have also received encouragement from God to stay faithful. I did my devotional a couple of days ago, and here is what was on the agenda:

"When Trusting God is a Handful" 

I mean, how often do you feel this way? I know that lately this is a bigger struggle than I'd like it to be.

It is hard not to continue to be amazed by what I like to call "the tapestry He weaves." This particular devotional went on to bring 1 Kings 17:7-16, which speaks about Elijah's faithfulness in God's promise to provide. God told Elijah to hide out near a brook where he could drink and the ravens would bring him his meals. When the brook dried up, God told him to go to a village called Zarephath and that a widow had been instructed by God to feed him. Not surprisingly, the woman was shocked by Elijah's asking for her last handful of flour, and was a bit hesitant to believe that God would provide for her family. But Elijah, in his seemingly unending faithfulness, simply said that the jar of flour and the bottle of oil would not run out because God had said that it wouldn't. That's it! Elijah believed so firmly that God would provide and fulfill His promises that he told a woman to give out the last of her flour...the only thing standing between the starvation of her and her son. He risked their lives AND his purely on his steadfast belief in God's provision. 

Now I just need to do the same.

Alison