One Year Later: Remembering

Memorial Day weekend. 

I was in Philadelphia, nearly a year into Partnership Development. Things were going.... slowly; and it was more than a little discouraging. 

You see, there's a rule that stateside staff with NTM is supposed to be at 60% before they can come on staff. And you have to hold steady at 60% before it will be considered official. It makes sense, but being at only 35% in May meant that I wasn't going to be able to return and teach the kiddos at the missionary training center in the fall. Again. 

On top of that, we had a family reunion. In Branson, Missouri- SO close to the training center.  And Memorial day weekend was graduation weekend - the last of the kiddos I had taught were graduating and leaving, and I wouldn't get to see them again. So even though I was excited for the family reunion (we only all can get together approximately every 10 years), I was totally dreading the weekend. My community group at church was praying extra for my contentment to survive going so close, and yet being so far from the ministry God had laid on my heart. Well, either contentment or my own person miracle- getting to go back after all. But even with that I couldn't help feeling, this weekend is going to suck. 

Friday morning. My sister's at work. 30 minutes till I need to pick her up to leave. I'm packing the minute stuff and praying like crazy to be able to focus on the positive when my phone rings.  

It's a Missouri  number. Mom must have gotten to the hotel early,  "Hello?"

But its not Mom. Its the Director of Personnel from the Training Center.  And its my own personal miracle. 

They're seriously short on childcare personnel for the fall. Short enough that they're willing to waive the "several months" requirement. Short enough they're willing (as long as my home church agrees) to waive the support requirements altogether. 

And the family reunion was so perfect: because I could get advice, cautions and encouragement from my amazing relatives- most of whom serve in one ministry capacity or another.  And after roughly a week of prayer (35% was nowhere near enough to pay bills), and a meeting with my pastor, it was unanimous. 

I got to go.

One year, later it is amazing to look back and remember this moment, one year ago, when God did the impossible. And He has provided so amazingly. By Christmas, I was actually at 60%. The impossible. Again. Like He so often does.