Gratitude Gratitude Gratitude

My posts are all maybe a little, teensy-weensy bit too pessimistic.

I am not always a positive person. In fact, I think I'm really too negative and/or hard on myself pretty much all the time. I'm always saying that this is too hard, or I'm too busy, or I can't make it work, or what have you. 

The bottom line is though, no matter what I say to the contrary, I am so joyful and EXCITED about what transition I am in. Sometimes it's hard to keep my eye on the prize, so things will get me down that really shouldn't, but all-in-all I have had one heck of a year and a half. From it all beginning at the missions conference in St. Louis and meeting ECMI, to the application process that nearly drove me completely  insane (I'm serious, I don't think CEO's go through the wringer like we long-term missionaries do!), to the whirlwind, jet-lagged-to-the-point-of-feeling-drunk trip to Rostock in September...this all has been such an experience, and I really wouldn't trade it. I was speaking to a good friend and coworker of mine earlier this week, and while going over my progress I realized that even if for some terrible reason it all fell through and I couldn't make it Germany, I still have learned and changed and grown so much. And not just in that Christian way of growing in my faith, but really maturing and becoming more of an adult. My priorities have all really become more clear and things that used to take up my life but didn't really matter have suddenly become just that: things that don't matter. If I woke up one day and suddenly Germany wasn't in the cards, I would be ok. 

But no worries! There are certainly no plans for me to veer off course. In fact, I received some lovely news this week! I have 2 new monthly supporters. I could not be more thrilled. Sometimes, when living this tough life gets me down and starts to feel like too much, I pray that God would give me a sign to tell me that I am on the right path and that He's still there. And lo and behold, I got the most lovely email from one of my favorite ECMI-USA folks, one of our board members and volunteers, Rebekah, explaining that I have new donors to add to the list! I am so, so grateful for those people and their willingness to hop on board with this crazy journey of mine. They are so awesome, in fact, that they joined my team virtually no questions asked. I give thanks to God for that sign from Him and for those faithful brothers and sisters who are trusting me to follow God's leadings.

A big prayer request I have for the moment is one that is definitely becoming more and more important as the days move closer and closer to my December 31st deadline. Lately, I've realized that I'm coming upon a point in my fundraising and other preparations where it is necessary to devote a greater and greater amount of my time and energy on these transitions. Unfortunately, it is and has been very difficult for the school where I work to be able to give me the flexibility I'm beginning to need. I am very, very understanding of this...we work with children, and if there is anything a child needs most, it is stability and trust in their caretakers. I am seeing now that it may be time to relinquish my position as a lead teacher or to possibly become a substitute, where I will have more say over the hours that I work. The issue with being a substitute, though, is that I will never be guaranteed to have the hours I will need to keep in order to continue receiving health insurance benefits. So, dear friends, if you wouldn't mind adding me to your list of prayers, it would great if you could pray for clarity in this situation and for God to continue to provide for me in accordance with His will and His timing. That whatever it may be, if it is His will for me to move on from this job, become a substitute, or continue on with the status quo, that He would open and close doors as necessary. I know that He is moving me in the right direction due to the way He has provided so far, and I know He will continue to. Praise God!

Thanks for reading and keeping me in your thoughts. :)

Blessings, 

Alison

To Donate:

1. Send your checks made out to ECMI-USA with a separate note with my name, Alison Settle on it to this address:            ECMI-USA
                                                                             PO Box 181
                                                                  West Unity, OH 43570

2. Click here, specify me, Alison Settle, and you can donate through your amazon.com account.

3. Or for monthly donations via electronic transfer, send a request by email to rebekah.burkholder@ecmi.org