Welcome, 2013!

For the past few weeks I've been throwing around the idea of writing a blog to share with you guys about what's been on my heart lately, and I finally decided to do it after I recieved several encouraging messages out of the blue this week. (The Lord knows what I needed to hear. Or maybe I'm just supposed to open up and share what's on my heart.)

I can say that this past year has been a big one for me. So much has happened. God blessed me with the opportunity to be in 4 different countries this year, and I have spent 8 out of the 12 months living in Chile.

If you talked to me the summer after May 22nd 2011, you know that I would have never pictured all of this. In fact I didn't even want to leave Joplin. I now know this is what happens when you let God write your story. SO much better than anything I could have imagined..

These past few weeks back in Chile have been weeks of community, laughter, and pure joy. But they have also been weeks filled with prayer and decision making- seeing what God has in store for 2013.

And let me tell you... God has definitely blown me away. (Like he usually does.) I came here expecting answers about what I was supposed to do with school, but instead He's showed me something completely different, and not what I was expecting at all. Funny how that always happens..

So for all of you that have messaged me these past few weeks/months,everyone who has supported me this past year- I thought I would do a question and answer type thing so I could hopefully cover all of the questions I have been asked. As well share how the Lord has been transforming my heart, and what this next year looks like.

- You're in Chile? Again? 
I am!! This semester the Lord blessed me with the opportunity to come back to Chile for the month of December, and spend Christmas and the New Year here. Looking back over these couple of weeks it's crazy to think how much the Lord has shown me just in this short amount of time. His timing is perfect.
(And yes, I am coming back to the states. I'll be back the 8th of January.)

- Who is that guy in all of your pictures? 
Sebastian Palma. This past year (a very long year of praying), the Lord has been creating a truly beautiful story between us, and when I came back to the states in August we both realized that we were supposed to be together. I am still blown away at how the Lord knows exactly what I need, and more. I am so incredibly blessed to have found someone who loves the Lord so much, and wants to serve Him with all of his heart. Needless to say... We're excited for the future!!

- What are your plans now?
 I don't have a whole lot set in stone, but for right now my plan is to finish off my general eds this coming semester.
These past few weeks I have really been praying about ministry opportunities here in Santiago. The Lord has made it very clear that this is where I'm supposed to be, so I've been meditating on what my focus would be when I come back, and of course where God wants me to be here.
I started out with praying over all of the different places I had served this past year, but nothing really stuck out to me. Of course they are all great ministries, but I never had a moment where I thought "okay God.. I get it. This is where you want me." I was always unsure.

Until the other day out of nowhere, I had a conversation with my host mom.
And to be honest, at first I kinda laughed. The idea was just something that had never occured to me, and I've spent 11 months here.

But then the more I thought about it... I started seeing so many needs, so many opportunities. Things I didn't see before.

I won't share all of the details right now, because there's still a lot of decisions to be made and a lot of things that need to happen. But I know that everything will happen not a minute too early nor a minute too late... in his perfect timing. I'm excited, and I would LOVE it if you guys would join me in prayer. Maybe this is where God wants me to be... or maybe it's something completely different. But either way I know that he already has everything planned out. And the important thing is that HIS name is glorified in every part of the process.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me this past year. I wouldn't be here without your loving hearts. And, of course, without the One who made it all happen.

Feliz Año Nuevo!