Be Still.

"Be still and know that I am God."

My heart is heavy, my mind is foggy and my body is adjusting to this new found life. The girl I left in Oregon resembles not to the woman I found in Hawaii. The changes, the experiences, the memories and the redefinition of all things these past few months all came to a crashing realization these past few days. It's 2011 and this year is going to be different. This year is declared for God and many more to come, this year I am starting a life of missions in a new place and knowing that it will take me to many more nations. With this calling on my life I know that where God guides he does provide and with that knowledge I must trust in it's truth. I have recently returned from traveling to 5 nations, 4 states, and being on 7 different flights all in the last month. I have landed in Hawaii where I must now call home. I have committed at least one year to serving at Surfing The Nations and have taken ownership of traveling to Sri Lanka for at least one month this year. I was in the Middle East for the month of December and the sights I've seen, the places I've been, the hearts I've heard, the faces I've met and the changes in me that have happened all come to a boiling roar as I sit here in full surrender of my life. These last two weeks I have returned from a foreign country, had to say goodbye to my friends and family, moved to a new home and sent off my very best friend to move full time with her family to Sri Lanka. It's been a week of brokenness, blessings and building. I am excited for this adventure that God is taking me on and I know I have been called to be at Surfing The Nations and with that knowledge I must trust, thrive and surrender to my Father.

Starting tomorrow my time at Surfing The Nations officially begins. Leadership school is for the next three months and within that I will be guided through a path of learning how to be a better leader within what ever missions field God guides me to. With teachings, studies and outreaches these next three months will guide my ability to find myself as a leader and how to better lead as well as submit. After the three months are finished I will be here for the next nine months as volunteer staff. Within these next nine months the pages are blank and the pen is only in the hand of the ultimate author of my life. I am excited to see what God will provide in this next year and the journey he will take me on.

This next year I am praying for the financial and spiritual support from those who have been called to support. God instilled in me a peace of coming back in January and having to raise support from the islands, rather than being home I know will be a challenge but one that requires me to live the trust I have in my Father rather than just believe it can be done.

With a piece of my heart I leave this message in hopes you will partner with me either in spiritual or financial support. God has shown me his direction for now and I pray that within this year I will begin to be able to read the words he writes upon my blank pages. I pray that with each day I turn the page to hear the next epic line he has yet to write and as I close one chapter, another begins with new direction, new hope, new passions and an everlasting theme of following his and only His will.

With all my love,
Julie