January Reflection

Highlights:

· Chase was able to participate in a Young Life training class in Dallas

· A staycation at Meg’s parents’ house in Yakima—it’s nice to change scenery!

· Fun, outdoor connections with small groups of students (frisbee in the park, snow showing, campfires)

· Passing 80%! Woohoo! This milestone brought new hire paperwork for Meg, the start of the visa process, and more clarity over our transition. Thanks to all who made that possible!

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From Meg:

What I learned: We just have to keep showing up. We must be faithful, even in discomfort, to the task before us. This is true in so many areas of our life, not just in fundraising. I keep hoping we will magically jump 10%, skip ten steps ahead, but that isn’t how this works. We believe God is faithful and will make a way, but that doesn’t mean we get to ride passively. It requires our faithful response, to wake up every morning and recommit—an understanding that will undoubtedly serve us well in the seasons to come.

Beyond Malibu 2016

Where I saw God: As an Enneagram Four, I am no

stranger to emotions. However, this past month I’ve felt grounded and hopeful, even in the midst of anxiety, fear, and impending change. This sense of self and rootedness is reassuring and a sign of the growth I’ve experienced over the past few months. Praise God.

What I hope for: I’m hopeful that we will meet our goal on time, I don’t know the full how or who, but we are just so close! I look forward to standing on top of that mountain, popping some champagne, and celebrating the community that has come around us.

From Chase:

What I learned: As mentioned above, I got to spend the first week attending a class on counseling principles and topics. It was nice to take a break from fundraising to reflect on my life as a whole. Coming away, I had more insight into marriage, how to do my job better, areas of growth in my life, understanding my family more and clarifying unhealthy patterns/thoughts. I’d love to share more if you are interested! Let’s chat!

Where I saw God: In this season of actively pursuing others in fundraising, I’ve been connecting with God via this app called Lectio 365. Its twelve minutes of reflection, prayer and meditation. This past month has been a series on a section of Jesus’s famous teaching called the Beatitudes (blessed are the poor, blessed are the meek). This has given me time to pause and reflect where God is in my life. It’s easy right now to get caught up in my “doing” and productivity when what I really need is to reflect in my “being.” Overall, it has been a very encouraging and a helpful tool for me. Check it out!

What I hope for: This is a fun time in our process where it’s just a matter of time and pursuit until we are fully funded—we just have to keep the course. However, there are still some people that I haven’t connected with that I’d like to reach out to, even if only just to catch up with them. My hope is to be able to have the margin and motivation to chat with important folks from my past and see what comes.

PRAYER:

Please join us in praying for the last of our financial provision, clarity in where to live, and capacity to finish and transition well.