Moving On...

(this is the e-mail I sent out to my prayer partners, friends and family)

Several folks have asked me how it went last week at the IMB missionary candidate conference in Richmond. Here are the highlights:

• Tuesday night, we were encouraged to examine all the pieces of the puzzle and see if they all fit together. The pieces were:
  Call-can you pinpoint a time when you felt the Lord specifically calling you to the mission field? Has that call been confirmed in any way? I knew the call was in place because I felt the Lord calling me to full-time service back in middle school, then it was confirmed on several occasions throughout college and afterwards. Last March, when I went to Guatemala, was when I felt God saying "it's time." That's when I applied to the IMB.
  Timing-is there anything in your life right now that would prevent you from going into the field or cause you to come back before finishing your commitment? Now is the time I'm financially free, single and ready to go, so that piece was in place.
  Job Match-is the job you selected appropriate for your skills, personality and desires? Are the location and culture things that you could adapt to, so that you could be most effective for God? After speaking to the second consultant, this was the one piece I was concerned about. Friday, I met with the regional director for South America. My concern was that the job was not appropriate for a single female, but he assured me that not only was the job one I was capable of doing, but that they already had a single female in the same town, working with a different group of people in a similar job. He said we could even be roommates if we wanted. :)
  
• Wednesday, we had medical tests, photos, time to study about our country and people group in the library and a session about staying mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually healthy on the field.
  
• Thursday, I had an interview with a second consultant and a couple of group sessions where we shared our testimonies and specific callings on our lives.
  
• Friday afternoon, after sessions about shipping stuff to the field and safety while on the field, I met with my original candidate consultant for a wrap-up session. He told me that the consultants had reviewed my file and they had talked with the South America director and they were unanimous about the decision for me to move forward.
  
• Next Step: reference forms are going out now to all my references and the board will make a final decision on January 28 or 29. According to my consultant, I should be approved by the board without a problem unless something shows up in the medical tests.
  

Thank to all who are praying me through this thing. I am so excited about the upcoming changes and if I weren't teaching this year, I'd be chomping at the bit to get there ASAP! But, God's timing is perfect and I'm glad I have a good 10 months left with all of you here in the U.S. :)