This summer, I had the great opportunity to take our junior high students up to Camp Adventure (CA). CA is the place where Libby and I met, it's where I got my call to ministry, it's the place where so much has happened in my life spiritually and God just moves in that place. Read a couple posts back about what took place this summer while we were there....powerful stuff. While I was out there I saw some people who are "high up" in the camping organization. It's through the United Methodist church and there are 7 camps in Indiana, so some of the top people were out there my week. I asked what they were doing out there and Danni (who is the camp manager) told me that they wanted to talk with me. I figured they just wanted to see how my week was going. Instead, Shane just poured into me about things he's heard about me and that they want me to consider applying for the program manager position of CA. It was really encouraging that someone would even notice me and seek me out like that, but I just wasn't sure. I came home and processed with Libby. Libby was getting ready to start another school year and she absolutely loves where she is, we just made changes again to our youth program and I was in no position to just leave it. So I told the camp thanks, but not right now. I needed time to transition out of the youth ministry and they wanted the position filled at the end of the summer. If you know me, you know my love for camping ministry and I told them that I see myself there, but I needed time. SO that door was now shut.
I came home and went up to meet with mentor of mine. He and his wife met me my first summer while working at CA. I've stayed in touch with him and he was helping me process camp. At the end of our discussion, I told them about the camp coming to me for that job. His wife started crying and I thought I offended her :-) But she said that they knew that position was open, they have been praying for that person who would take over and when I walked in, she knew it was going to be me. So she was crying because she really believed this was God directing our steps and that I was the guy for the job. I told them how I shut the door, it didn't make sense on so many levels. 1 - Libby loves where she is 2 - I love where I am, the kids have gone through too much change and I need to carry out this new change 3 - financially it doesn't make sense not knowing if Libby will have a job. They gave me their pastor talks about how God's plan doesn't always make sense, but how He blesses us when we are obedient. They prayed over me and then I left. I was unsettled. I desired to be at camp, but I desired to be at the Bridge. I didn't know what to do. But I had shut that door and I think there was a reason - so we just left it.
A couple weeks go by and I get a phone call from the camp. This wasn't unusual because we had some kids go to the hospital our week, so I figured it was another call asking for details or something. Well, it was Danni. She told me how they had gone through the search process, they didn't have a peace about the position, they prayed about it and my name came back into it. Telling them I told them know, she was told to pursue me again. So I went up and had a conversation with them. I basically interviewed them, I wanted to make sure this was the right fit and a place that I could thrive. They told me they would call me in 2 weeks and let me know. Libby and I committed to praying about this every day. It's so cool when you get on the same page as your spouse - we both felt that if God opens that door, we will go. If He shuts it, I will just feel encouraged and put some wind in my sails so that I can continue strong at the Bridge. They called me a week later and offered me the position! I had told them I couldn't start until January, so I figured I would be out and they would go a different direction. But I was wrong! I accepted the position and I start at the beginning of January. So crazy, yet so awesome. This is where it all started for Libby and me and now we get to go back. I love this place so much, it has so much of my story wrapped up in it.
But there's a tricky part and this is where we need your prayer. I won't be moving up there until March because Libby has to finish out her school year and they didn't want us to be separated. Thankfully, a lot of what I do during the off season is on the phone/computer and driving to meet with people. So I don't HAVE to be up there all the time. But I do have to be up there every week for a couple days at a time. So Libby and I won't be together much, then when March hits, we'll only be together on the weekends. We need your prayer for our marriage and that this time will go so fast. The last thing we want is to be apart, but we know it's only for a season and that this will be the best adventure we get to go on together. We know it will work and be wonderful, but for a few months it will be hard. It's an exciting time, we're so excited. It's so awesome just watching God's plan for our lives unfold.
Next sunday is my last sunday at church. It's been hard, things haven't gone the way I want them to as I leave. At the same time, it's showing me that this truly is God's protection and guidance for us to leave. His plan is perfect, better than anything we could ever dream up.
So there's our story, that's the latest happenings in our life!
