And there I was......waiting.

Oh gosh I'm still yawning from the lack of sleep- this whole working nights thing is wearing on me again.

But onward and upward we go.....putting in time at work is required until I get to jump into The Next Big Thing.   The house rental thing isn't exactly going as I had dreamed- please continue to pray for the perfect folks to take over living at 3148 Limestone Road in C-Vegas.   I've got about 5 weeks until I thought I'd like to be prepping to fly out of here.   And I've got a lot more money that I need to raise to fund the DR Dream.

However, last night as I was driving to work at 10p I decided that really....REALLY...I'm gonna continue to wait for God to give me the big heads up.    I've been so impatient and anxious about trying to get out of here and it isn't doing anything good for my relationship with Jesus and my interactions with friends, family, colleagues and random strangers who must think I'm nuts.  

I think this means that if my plane ISN'T landing in Santa Domingo on July 2 I will not cry and stomp my feet anymore or wake up with fingers of anxiety circling around my neck and my stomach doing somersaults.    I think it means...that yet again... my life is not my own.   I said YES to Jesus a while ago...and although we quarrel about who gets to call the shots alot- this one is going to have to be on Him.    So I'm gonna keep on working and hanging out and try to focus on putting in some good times here...some good memories while I wait.   I want more time with Grandpa.   I want to go swimming in Pine Creek.  I want to help deliver some sweet little brown babies that will grow up and speak spanish.    I want to sit in my small group and look around at these great and long-suffering friends that keep supporting me and bailing me out of selfishness.     I want to somehow (maybe?)  start running a mile or two again.  I really REALLY want to meet Antonio Bastardo at a Phillies game while I'm killing some hotdogs on Dollar Dog Night.  

I know God is calling me to the DR...but I just can't nail down exactly how it's going to go down.   So I'm pretty sure that I'm supposed to be living INTENTIONALLY right now, not banking on the future, not dwelling on the past and all the ridiculous stuff I've been caught up in, not sweating work or hours or plane tickets or houses or fundraising.    I'm thinking God really wants me to REST IN HIM (and let me tell you, I have not been resting in Him- I've been sweating everything!) and let Him pull this whole thing off.     Of course my neurotic personality will need all of you to remind me of this possibly hourly, if not daily.  :)    He's a Great God...otherwise He'd never tolerate a fool like me.  

Thanks for praying for me.   I know it's old hat, but I can always tell that prayers are lifting me up.  I can't imagine how folks can get out of bed without Jesus and His cronies (who remain the face of Him for me).  

Love,
nik

One Month. Un Mes.

Hummus.  That is one thing that I completely forgot about while I was in the DR.  Hummus is GOOD.   I have been loving to eat hummus and Turkey Hill chocolate ice cream and fresh asparagus.   The good news is:  May is a perfect time to be in Chester County Pennsylvania.    April was too cold and rainy for me....but May is glorious.  

I am enjoying meeting up with family and friends and hanging in the home church and driving down back roads checking out the spring blooms in all their glory.   Oh, and how cool is it to watch the Phightin Phils in person or on local tv!   BUT I am dreaming of the mangos and chinola and habichuelas that are awaiting me in the DR too.   And here is how the journey back is looking....

I remain in the quest to rent my house.  Rough going, actually.  I have the most fantabulous tenants in the world currently and they will be tough to top.   So prayers in this direction would be appreciated.  And....if any of you know folks who would like to rent an old house (built in 1865) with LOTS of cool character in C-Vegas, PA- send me the info!  

On the fundraising front... onward we go.  I think I am almost halfway there and have heard affirmations with this which makes me feel better.   For those of you interested in supporting me financially,  Solid Rock is waiting to hear from you!   It's easy-peasy via their website www.solidrockmissions.org using the Donate key.  Or they are available via phone to answer questions or set up stuff for you at 419-956- 4077.  If you need more information on my goals and aspirations, check out my last blog post!

With all my intense planning and plotting and to-do lists, I literally laughed when I read my Jesus Calling on Friday.

"Do not search for security in the world you inhabit.  You tend to make mental checklists of things you need to do in order to gain control of your life.  If only you could check everything off your list, you could relax and be at peace.  But the more you work to accomplish that goal, the more things crop up on your list.  The harder you try, the more frustrated you become.  

There is a better way to find security in this life.  Instead of scrutinizing your checklist, focus your attention on My Presence with you.  This continual contact with Me will keep you in my Peace.  Moreover, I will help you sort out what is important and what is not, what needs to be done now and what does not.   Fix your eyes not on what is seen (your circumstances) but on what is unseen (My Presence). " (Isa 26:3 and 2 Cor 4:18)


Haha.  Anyone else challenged here with me?  I LOVE my checklists!   So, for now- I'm gonna head out for a little bit, maybe check out my mom's flowers, buy some asparagus,  or watch the neighbors mow some hay with their horses.   I think I'm gonna soak in some Presence!

Bendiciones
nik

It was kinda chilly at the Bank...but it was awesome!  I love the Phillies!  Even tho they lost....

And I did get some hair chopped off...but not in a failure-to-cope-just-do-something-way.  It was just TIME.  :)

AHHHH this is what is waiting for me in the DR!  Mangos!  Que no daria yo por comer mangos!