What's Next?

I am officially home for the summer! And the gap year has sadly come to an end

:( but living for Jesus hasn't! One thing that I did learn about ministry is that its not just about our "doing" or "works" but ministry is living your life and abiding in Jesus where ever you are... even if that is in your own home or at the beach or in the grocery store... we can use all circumstances and environments to be a light for Christ!

So... What's next?

This question has been asked more times than I can remember since coming back home from the most amazing 9 months of my life. In all honesty, it has caused moments of anxiety as I try to plan out my life in my own finite mind… which spoiler alert is impossible. The question of “What’s next” is not in of itself bad, but I can’t help but be reminded of when the Bible says in Philipians 4:6, “do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” and when Jesus says in Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” I am commanded by God to not worry about what tomorrow brings let alone my entire future. He’s got me. He has a divine purpose for my life that He has known since He formed me in my mother’s womb. And the only answer I have to the question of “what's next” is… I am serving Jesus Christ in whatever capacity He desires me to. “What’s next” is me dying to myself daily and choosing to live a life for my perfect friend, gracious Savior, and loving Father in Heaven. I am so imperfect at it but thankfully God never leaves or forsakes His children, and He is quick to forgive & sanctify us. My fervent prayer from the very beginning of giving my life to Christ has been that whatever I end up doing I pray it would bring glory to God’s name not my own. And after the gap year I have been praying and praying for Jesus to walk me down the path He wants me to venture down. Praying that God would be with me and that He would actively be shutting the doors. Long behold, a few months ago an exciting opportunity quickly arose through a connection at my church.The opportunity is for me to go back overseas this October and Au Pair for a missionary family in Germany! I immediately started praying that if the Lord wanted me to go then that He would smooth out all the little details. I was praying specifically for Him to provide housing for me to be able to live near the family (because their apartment was too tiny for me to live there). My prayers were quickly answered, God provided a place for me to live, and He just kept the door open for me to be able to go to Germany. This incredible opportunity allows the unique ability for me to be a blessing to this family by helping out with their two little ones and creating more time for the parents to do ministry in Germany. Once again, I am in awe of how incredible, faithful, and insanely good God is. ALSO I will be able to do ministry alongside this family and join their local church!! There's an opportunity for me to join a women's Bible study, use art & painting to reach people with the Gospel, provide occasional childcare for small groups, and hopefully get plugged into the young adults ministry! I trust that the Lord will provide many more ways that I can serve alongside what He is already doing in Germany! As of right now, I am for sure staying at least 3 months in Germany on a tourist visa, but I do have the option to stay longer if I apply for an Au Pair visa. That being said, I would love it if you all could join me in prayer on whether God wants me to stay longer… and if He does then He would provide the funds and support for me to be able to live in Germany longer than 3 months. My yes is on the table, and I know God is in control of every little detail and that He has proven time and time again that He is our great Provider. Please be praying that God would also surround me with good godly friends and community while in Germany. And that Jesus would continue to sanctify me and He would use this experience to grow my humility, my faith, my character, my love for others, and my relationship with Christ. Love you all so much, and I am so beyond thankful for all of your prayers!! May God bless you always!! ❤️

Much love, Maja