As I post, I'm sitting in our new home in Grand Rapids, MI. Wow, have things changed since early March, when I last posted. We officially left Collegedale, TN on March 31. I can't say the parting was easy - I've really grown to love Chattanooga, the people, and especially having my family so near by. But somehow, like Isaac and Sarah, Luke and I have felt compelled to leave behind what we know and love, and act in faith. Faith that somehow God knows better than I do.
We must have made quite the caravan - Luke in his 26' Uhaul truck (all they had to give us), pulling a trailer with his car on it, and me bringing up the rear. We made it to Grand Rapids 11 hours later, with only a car bumper and the corner of a gas pump as fatalities. There the out-going associate pastor Willie Iwankiw, his wife Jody, and their friend Adrian met us to help unload the truck. We couldn't have done it without them! Finally my 1:00am we were unloaded and left in our new home.
I can't say the transition since then has been easy. I'm not used to living in the city. So the noise, travel, and lack of a yard have been an adjustment for me. But we're slowly getting used to it. And we have a lot to be thankful for. We have a cute little house, we're getting to know the city better, and the church family is really warm and loving. We already feel like we have friends here! Meanwhile, Luke is really enjoying his job as a pastor. It has its challenges, but overall, the experience of working with people on such a deep level and being able to really think out and understand different issues relevant to Adventism and evangelism has really been a blessing to him. That's what makes are time here the most meaningful for me!
I've applied for a few jobs as a nurse, but am still waiting for offers from both hospitals I applied at. In the meantime, I've been getting things in the house settled, setting up a budget, and catching up on everything that the wedding, honeymoon, and move got us behind on. We've also had the opportunity over the last few weeks to see some good friends (like Dan McGrath and Jamie Kiley), attend the wedding of my friends Annie Buell and Jesse Spangler in Oregon, and be a part of the West Michigan Youth Rally. So we certainly haven't been bored.
So, I guess we just want to say thank-you to everyone who has helped us in this move, prayed for us, visited us, or thought about us. We miss everyone at home, but are excited to see what God is going to do with and through us in Grand Rapids, MI.
As I post, I'm sitting in our new home in Grand Rapids, MI. Wow, have things changed since early March, when I last posted. We officially left Collegedale, TN on March 31. I can't say the parting was easy - I've really grown to love Chattanooga, the people, and especially having my family so near by. But somehow, like Isaac and Sarah, Luke and I have felt compelled to leave behind what we know and love, and act in faith. Faith that somehow God knows better than I do.
The past few months have been quite the roller coaster for me. Life changes have been coming thick and fast (they’ve been amazing changes, don’t get me wrong. Married life is at least two times better than it’s cracked up to be ☺). But on top of everything, I've been trying to process the growing realization that nursing is not for me. Although I went into nursing school expecting it to be a tool in my ministry toolbox and not a full time career, I didn't realize how much I would dislike even the thought of working a short stint en route to a more fulfilling opportunity.
