First
off I want to THANK all of you for being faithful in praying for me over these
past few months. I apologize that it has taken me so long to write this post
but I have been waiting on a few things to happen so that I could update you
with some concrete news. If there is one thing that I have to report it is that
GOD IS SO GOOD. I know most of you are aware that I have been trying to figure
out where God wants me this coming year. This past week and a half has been a
rollercoaster of emotions and quite the turn of events. I have been praying for
God to open a door, to hear my heart, and to place me where He wants me to be.
Last Sunday I was mentally preparing myself to schedule a meeting with the Chinchen’s (the heads of ABC)
to let them know specifically that I would not be
returning to ABC
as the Financial Controller. I had various reasons
for defending this
statement and strongly felt that the accounts office was not where God wanted
me next year. Mainly because my heart wasn't there and if I couldn’t be
ministering to the children preferably in the sports realm then maybe God was calling
me someplace else. I told myself Monday before I left the office I was going to
schedule that appointment. However, Monday morning, Sitara (the sports mistress
here/K-6 Athletic director) came into my office telling me that she had news
for me and wanted to talk to me before the day was over. She and
I have been
working very closely this year because, (1) she is in charge of all the sports
programs and (2) she knows that I want to help in any way I
can with afternoon
activities and sports. She
tells me that she has put an application into Bishop Mackenzie, which
is another International school here in Malawi. Her
soon to be fiancé
works there and she feels like God is calling her away from ABC. She also tells
me that she needs to have a meeting with the Chinchen’s and asks if it is okay
if she drops my name as the person she would
recommend taking her position. Of course I said ABSOLUTELY
YES! So naturally
I waited to schedule my meeting. I felt that she
needed to have her
meeting first so that there would be a position
open for me to
fill if the Chinchen’s would be willing to move me out of the office. At this
point I am absolutely amazed because I was praying for
God to open a door
or something and I could tell he was at work. What
kept coming to my
mind was Exodus 14:14 "the Lord will fight for you; you need
only to be
still." So that is what I did. Tuesday morning I went to
work hoping today
would be the day that the Chinchen’s met with
Sitara.
Unfortunately, their meeting was scheduled for Friday so that
meant I would need
to wait another week to have my meeting, which I
really wasn’t
looking forward to doing. I wanted them to know that I wouldn't be
coming back as the
accountant and being the impatient person that I am, selfishly, I didn't want
to have to wait that
long for an
answer. Remember when I said that God is good? On Tuesday 20 minutes before I
had to leave for
Upward Basketball,
Laura Chinchen asked to see me in her office. Immediately my mind thinks of
what have I
forgotten, or what
did I do wrong here in the accounts office, etc.
Thinking I'm in
trouble I head to her office and sit down. She begins
by saying "I
know after our last meeting that you are a "maybe" as for
coming back next
year. She says what if I told you that I have hired
another person for
your position and I am aware that Sitara has put an
application in for
Bishop." She goes on to explain that she thinks
this is a good
time for Sitara to phase out of ABC and she and Paul
were talking the
night before and think that I would be the perfect
person to fill her
shoes. They both have been impressed by my
character in
sticking out the office even though they know I have struggled with it this
year and they have been blown away by the organization of Upward
this year as
compared to last year. She asked if I would stay next year if I were given the
Sports Mistress position.
Crazy right?
But wait there’s
more...
The girl that I recruited
to fill my position at PazNaz (First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena), Sarah
(who played
on my intramural
basketball team at APU) - it looks like she might be coming out to Malawi next
year as well. She is a sports gal as well and Mrs. Chinchen’s idea is that she
and I would
be in charge of
the organizing the sports (PE and afternoon
activities) for
the younger kids (K-6). I think Sarah and I would work really
well together and
it would be awesome to have two Upward guru’s here. What an answer to prayer
right?
Also, a friend of
mine from Azusa Pacific, Matt, I just found out is also thinking about coming
out to Malawi next year. He was in my sports ministry class at APU
with Bill Wills,
who is here this year. I worked at Matt’s church last summer for a week to help
with their sports camp in Fullerton and he also did Uncharted Waters, the
sports ministry I worked for 2 summers ago.
ABC already has
some awesome people that are applying for next year and a good number of this year’s
staff is staying.
I told Mrs.
Chinchen that if all of these things indeed work out and Sitara's
job is available I
would love to come back next year.
God isn't moving
me yet, if he was then I believe that there would
have been a door
shut here...not opened completely. When I look back and consider God’s
provision this year I am overwhelmed with joy and gratefulness.
I mean...how can I
say no, right?
I do not have all the specific details yet, but I’m
sure I will be getting those soon. Thank you to everyone who has been praying
for me and who has been specifically praying for wisdom and direction in this
decision. I truly appreciate all of you and your constant words of encouragement
to me. Your emails, prayers, Facebook messages, packages, and letters do not go
unnoticed.
As we say here in Malawi…
Zikomo (Thank you)
Until next time,
Amy
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