The Last Year

It is so hard to believe that one year ago I was in Paraguay, oh how the time flies. I was looking back at my journal from that trip and realized that it has been, just over a year since I decided to follow God's plan for my life. This has been a process that has actually taken three years and three different mission trips to finally come to. If you know me you've heard the story so I apologize if this is repetitive. I just can't believe how far I have come in the last year.

So let's go back to Paraguay. This was my first out-of-the-country mission trip. I had been trying to figure out over the past three years where God was calling me in my life, because I knew after my first year out of college that it wasn't teaching. I had gone through choices of youth ministry and missions. And going into this trip I was greatly leaning toward mission work, full-time, but also considering full-time ministry as a pastor. The group I went with included 4 pastors (at least 3 in which ministry was a second career, I don't know about David.) On the trip and in meetings before the trip, I got to know these men very well and heard about their calling into ministry. Well to make a long story short through the work of the Holy Spirit and these men, I realized that God was calling me into full-time pastoral ministry. I will never forget the night that I gather these 4 men of God together after a team meeting in Paraguay and told them of my decision. They were all so very supportive of me and prayed for me and my ministry that night. (I'm tearing up thinking about it.) That was one year ago Tuesday, the 18th.

After I came home I spoke with my pastor, who had been guiding me through this decision for the past 3 years, and together with Matt, I began the process to become an elder in the United Methodist Church. I also applied and was accepted to Asbury Theological Seminary, in Wilmore KY (the best seminary ever, Keith)! I was assigned a mentor earlier this year who has been wonderful. Alyce has brought me through so much and has encouraged me to further my exploration of my call and how God is moving in my life. I could not ask for a better mentor (though her husband is a different story . . . j/k I love Keith too).

This last year has been quite a journey and I could not have made it through without God, Christ, the Holy Spirit and all my wonder friends and family. In just over a week I will be making the move down to ATS to begin my MDiv education and I cannot wait. I will miss my friends and family back home dearly, but I know that God has amazing things planned for me in my time at ATS.

I will try to keep this blog updated as to what I am doing while at ATS, and while I am back home during breaks. I want to thank all of you who have supported me and have prayed for me along this journey and I ask for your continued prayers. God is so good and I can't wait to see how He is going to shape me into the minister that He wants me to be.

Until next time
God Bless,
Erica <><