I have now lived in Austin about 15 months or so. It has been an whirlwind and at the same time I feel like I've been here a long time.
Things have changed a lot since my 25th birthday. I've moved into a house with my college roommate and best friend. I stopped working at Hill Country Bible Church as an Emerging Leader. I've settled more into a life here in Austin that doesn't feel so transient. I've been working full-time at Mission Possible for 2 months now.
God has been teaching me so much these past few months. I couldn't get into it if I tried in one blog post. As always, my posts are few and far between. But the good side is that life has been treating me well. I am loving my life these days... and here is a "glimpse into my world..."
Forge friends (Jess and PaToya) a few weekends ago in Austin. PaToya was my roommate and fellow EL last year. It's been sweet to have her friendship here, as this is the first time that we get to "choose" to be friends.
Mom, Melissa, and I at Roundtop. Fun experience, horrible allergies. And I mean, HORRIBLE allergies. Don't know how I'll ever get to experience that again...
And now... a glimpse into my world of Mission Possible!
These are two of the girls (family of 4 kids) who I love dearly. I got to know them last spring. Here we are watching their oldest brother play in his middle school football game.
I got the opportunity to go to Indianapolis a few weeks ago for a Christian Community Development Association conference. This was one of the coolest things I've been to. I learned a ton, met some incredible people, and just got to experience a perspective to my job and life that I hadn't been able to before.
One of my loves: discipling teens. So one of my biggest goals is to develop a program for youth. When I stepped into this role, we didn't have this. We have a Spring and Fall Retreat for elementary age kids. This fall we invited many of our youth to be leaders. It was extremely challenging for them, but so good. We are hanging out and beginning the stages of what a youth group would look like. Pray for me and for these youth... I love them all a whole lot.
Weekly we have Big Fish Club. A program on Thursday nights for elementary kids in the neighborhoods directly by Mission Possible. We play games, have a lesson and small groups and a meal. Pray for us and for my leadership as I have big dreams for this, but also have to take it one day at a time.
Here I am with one of my dearest friends from Big Fish Club. I love these kids and all of the differences they have between each of them. His presence is a reminder for me, to look each kid in the eye and care for them. To speak identity into them and to treasure them, in every single moment.
And these are three of my youth girls... I cannot express how dear they are to me. How much I long for them to really embrace God's love and to live differently as a result of that. Pray for them. Pray for our relationships.
I know this is not much, but I hope this glimpse is enough to keep you coming back... please pray for me and my kids. I love my job because it's about them and seeing them fall in love with Jesus. And come to Austin!
