So it begins…

I’ve decided to start a blog, as a way to share with others what I’m experiencing, how I’m growing and dealing with the big changes that are happening in my life. 

I’ve greatly enjoyed and been incredibly blessed, the past 5 ½ years as I’ve served at Eben-Ezer as the youth pastor, and studied at CBC. Now that I’d finally finished my studies at CBC I felt like it was time for a change, but I didn’t realize at first how big the change would be! 

It all happened really quickly. I was exploring some options with MCC, and then I heard about a position with MCC and Mennonite World Conference (MWC) working with web communications in Colombia, for 3 years. At first I thought there was no way I could do this position, anyone who knows me knows that I don’t do computer programming. But then some people at MCC encouraged me to apply, because the position was about communications, writing and updating stuff on the web, not designing web pages. And I thought, maybe I could do that. So I decided to start the conversation with them, and one step led to another.

The short version is that within the following 12 days, I was offered the position, had a few days to pray and discern with a few people who really know me, and after this time of discernment, I decided to follow where I felt God was leading me, and that was to accept it.

This all happened during the first half of December. After I made the decision to go, my life went a bit crazy. There were numerous emails from MCC and MWC, countless forms to fill out, appointments to make, things to wrap-up and clean up at Eben-Ezer, stuff to do, and people to visit. On January 6, I left home to come to Akron, PA for the MCC Orientation, which will be followed by 3 days of a MWC orientation. Then I’m back to Abbotsford on January 19, and more craziness will commence… packing, getting a visa, paper work for while I’m away, trying to see everyone one last time, etc. The goal is for me to be in Bogotá, on Feb. 1.

So far orientation is going great! J For those who know me it’s probably no surprise that I’m looking forward to a good night’s sleep today after flying through the night on Sunday and getting up for breakfast at 7:15am today! (Soooooo early!) But it’s been good, to learn more about MCC and get to know other people who are also serving with MCC. I’ll write more another time about orientation.

As all these changes are happening I have been greatly encouraged by so many people, my family and friends, my church family, and people I’ve met from all over. Thank you for your support and encouragement and please keep me in your prayers, especially the next few months as this big transition happens.