St. Louis

Imagine yourself in a football stadium with 22,000 other people from all 50 states and over 120 foreign countries singing songs in unison, dancing, and cheering in the new year...that was how I celebrated New Years this year, an unforgettable experience! In my last post I mentioned going to a missions conference in St. Louis, MO. In a nut shell, it is a FULL 4.5 days of speakers, seminars, bible study, worship, and prayer.

It's tough to summarize in a short blog post so I'll share a couple personal highlights. During the seminars (I chose most of mine from the "missions 101" track focusing on going overseas) something God confirmed or affirmed to me was to move forward with pursuing seminary. I don't know that God will take me overseas full time to work with a specific people group at this point but I am going to press forward in the direction until/unless he clearly closes that door. A few years ago I went on a trip overseas and God impressed the need I have personally to get solid Bible training before moving forward long term. One of the speakers at a seminar iterated the importance (criticalness) of this as well.

Long story short, Lord willing I will be going to seminary this coming fall either in Illinios or South Carolina to get a Masters in Biblical Studies. My first choice/desire for school would be at Moody Bible in Chicago, but we'll see how everything shakes out here in the next couple months as I apply. I don't have all the long term details worked out...finances being a biggie to me, but that also is something I need to lay before God and have faith that He will provide. Having just paid off all my loans this summer from grad school I don't want to jump back in to a debt situation. There are a lot of options I'm checking into to keep from having that again...working part time as an SLP being one. Wouldn't that be a change of pace, small school in Wasilla to an inner city school in Chicago?? The country mouse goes metro.

Another awesome blessing that week was my roommates. I shared a hotel room with 3 phenomenal women all in their late 20s early 30s, career stage life. We bonded immediately and had a BLAST together!! That is, when we saw each other...at night for our prayer and debriefing times and for a short morning session. Once our days started we'd all split and go to various sessions and not usually see each other again until we got back (via bus shuttle) to our hotel. Karen is a psychiatrist in New York City, Mari lives in Toronto doing administrative work for a medical clinic and Misty is a mechanic in South Dakota! I loved sharing and praying with you all! Blessings on your future decisions!