To feel both great joy and deep sadness all in one season of life is a unique experience. This last month has brought both of those in extreme forms. Knowing that we were going where God was leading, and having His confirmation time and again made it easier, but nothing prepares you for leaving EVERYTHING and EVERYONE behind in the process. Youth Ministry was something that I had invested my life in even as I was a teenager. Red Bluff was the place I was called into ministry.. it was the place I grew up... The place I had roots.. Family... Friends. Yet, here Jesus was, calling us to move 3000 miles across the country to a place where we had Him, each other, the Prius and the few things that would fit in it. When I would sit there and rationally think about what Trevor and I were about to do, it all sounded crazy... and scary. The "what if's" flooded my mind and at more times than I'd like to admit, would paralyze me with the fear of all that could go wrong.... And yet when I looked at it spiritually, I KNEW we were stepping out in the right direction and that He would provide for us along the way. There is something so magnificent about the presence of Jesus and how much peace He gives when we're not relying on our own strength or understanding. At times, I've felt like a ping pong ball, tossed back and forth between faith and fear. This last few months have been a huge growth point for Trevor and I in our levels of dependency on Him. We have stepped out like never before, and have seen God catch, guide, protect and provide for us like never before. We have been so beyond blessed just in the short time of being here and we can't wait to see what else He has in store.
As we neared Okeechobee for the first time last month, the song "Here As In Heaven" by Elevation worship was playing in the background. We were driving past some gorgeous fields on a day that couldn't have been more picture perfect... And as the words from the song were sung, and we entered this new territory where God had led us, tears just began to stream down my face.
"The atmosphere is changing now,
for the Spirit of the Lord is here,
the evidence is all around,
the Spirit of the Lord is here.
Overflow in this place,
Fill our hearts with Your love,
your love surrounds us.
You're the reason we're here,
to encounter Your love.
Your love surrounds us.
Spirit of God fall fresh on us.
We need Your presence.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
here as in heaven.
A miracle can happen now,
for the Spirit of the Lord is here.
The evidence is all around,
that the Spirit of the Lord is here."
Trevor and I both just sat silently in the car and just felt the presence of God surrounding us. Every word in that song just hit us as a reminder of His hand upon this new season. From that moment on, I haven't experienced a moment of the fear that had tried so hard to steal my focus. We felt a complete shift of our focus (from being focused on California and our lives there, to turning our hearts more fully to the mission before us in Florida). Neither one of us has looked back since.
When we arrived at the ranch, we just felt like we were home. I've never walked into a place before and had that feeling so soon. The staff here is incredible, and we are so thrilled to be partnering with them. We've never had a group of people be so welcoming as we have here. There are 6 other couples serving as House Parents (and there will soon be another couple, as they're almost finished building the 3rd boys home). Beyond the house parents, there are a group of volunteers that come to serve at different times of the year (snowbirds, who stay down here in the winter months). Many of them are a part of MAPS (Mission America Placement Service), an Assembly of God Missionary Program. This ranch operates just like the New Testament church, working together and constantly helping meet the needs of the others. I've never seen anything quite like it, apart from reading about it in the Word. I cannot tell you how amazing it is to be a part of something like this. The community support for this ranch is also like nothing else I've ever seen. People donate to Real Life constantly... Rodeo tickets, fair tickets, food at the fair, gifts, free chiropractic visits, food, water and many other events/things. Youth groups and church groups come out almost weekly to spent time with the kids and love on them, often providing food as well.
Trevor and I are the relief house parents for the 3 girls homes and in this short amount of time, have already fallen in love with these kids and what we are given the privilege of doing. We spend about 9-14 days in 1 home while the primary house parents get to have time off. We repeat that cycle through each of the girls homes until we have our time off. We get to love on these kids every day and point them to Jesus in all we say and do. We know these kids come from a variety of awful situations and home lives, and however long they're here, we'll strive to model what healthy family/marriages/lives/relationships with God look like so that they know how to live when they're no longer in our care.
We are so honored to serve in this place with these kids. Trevor and I keep coming up to each other in shock, saying, "This is our life!" and "Man, we love this place!".... Did we ever envision that we'd be living in Florida doing this? NO! But man I wouldn't change it. This place has our hearts. We miss everyone in California a TON, but we know that this is where God has us, so we'll just keep praying that all of our Californians move out here to Florida. Trust me, Florida is SO much cooler than California! :-P
We apologize if you've tried to contact us and we haven't gotten back to you yet, we've been super busy with training and getting settled in. It should be a little less crazy now. I'll try and keep everyone updated as much as I can!
Love you all!
Kristin
