Trickling In

More support, more support, more support!  Like the rain falling from these dark, cloudy skies, the support for my GAP year just keeps trickling in.  Today I came home from work and as I picked up a self-addressed support envelope from the counter, my mom said, "Isn't it nice to be getting mail every day?"  I told her "Yes, it is.  It's awesome."  And I just thought about everyone that has been supporting me financially and what a blessing that is to me.  Not only have I received financial support, but I have also received support through prayer and words of encouragement...despite some of the not-so-encouraging experiences I've had.


In the first "stages" of discerning whether or not to do a GAP year, I experienced quite a bit of negativity from others.  I went to a Bible study late last summer and overheard a woman telling another woman that she was a speech-language pathologist.  Since that is my field of study, my ears kind of perked up.  When that woman finished her conversation, I said, "I couldn't help but overhear that you're a speech-language pathologist...that's what I'm going to school for!"  She and I started talking a bit and I told her I was going into my fourth year of undergrad at Eastern Michigan.  She then asked me where I would be doing my graduate work.  I told her that I was considering taking a year off (I briefly explained the GAP year to her), and she didn't quite take it so well.  She told me, "Oh, no...don't do that.  You'll forget everything you learned in undergrad!  Go straight to grad school or you'll regret it."  By that point I had already heard a clear word from the Lord and was almost positive that He wanted me to do a GAP year...so this conversation was troubling to me.  I had told her that I really felt that God was calling me to do a GAP year, but she was trying to convince me otherwise.


Another similarly troubling experience came from talking to my parents about my GAP year.  They doubted that I'd be able to raise enough money to go.  A few weeks before I graduated, my dad asked me if I would be getting more hours at work once I was finished with school.  I told him I wasn't sure because it seemed like the managers had been trying to cut hours, so I might not get many more than what I had during school (about 20-25 hours).  He immediately told me I should think about taking up a second job, because there was no way I was going to raise enough money to go on my GAP year otherwise.  I guess he just didn't really realize that I'd be asking others for the majority of my financial support, not using what I've saved from work.  And I think he was having a hard time believing that people would actually give me money.  I guess a little bit of that pessimistic attitude kind of rubbed off on me, because I started to think that maybe he was right.  Maybe I wouldn't raise enough money to go to Ireland for a year.


Both of these experiences, along with a few more, really tested my faith.  It was as though God were saying to me, "Okay Rachel...here's what these people have said.  Are you going to believe them?  Or believe in Me?  Are you going to trust them?  Or trust Me?"  It was extremely difficult, but I had to really take a step forward and push both of those conversations (along with others) away.  I had to completely place my trust in God that because He called me to go on a GAP year, He would provide the money.  Not only that, but He would not let me forget what I have already studied in school (unless He wants me to go into ministry instead of speech-language pathology).  I believe that He will do these things because this GAP year is part of His beautiful plan for my life.


Right now I have so many people on my side.  I have my family, friends, coworkers, managers, and even strangers on my side.  Who are the strangers?  Right now it's everyone that came to my garage sale and the people I talk to at Costco.  I use every chance I get to have it be part of my conversations with others.  When they ask me about school, I explain that I just graduated and that I'm going to be taking a year off.  Then come the questions...and then comes sharing Christ.  If someone asks, "What's new?" or "What have you been up to lately?", that's my chance to share the blessings I'm receiving every day as I follow the Lord's plan for my life.  It's really a beautiful thing.


Before I close, I'd like to share that I am extremely thankful for the unexpected blessings I have received at work.  One of my managers is following my blog and has been so supportive of my trip to Ireland.  She's also given me great fundraising ideas!  She even suggested that we do some kind of fundraising luncheon at work before I leave, and I can't wait to see how God blesses that!  One of my other coworkers randomly told another coworker today, "Hey, guess what?  Rachel's going to Ireland at the end of the summer!  She's going to be a minister there!"  Okay, so I'm not exactly going to be a minister in Ireland...but he kind of got the point.  And I thank him for that, because it started up another conversation about my trip!  :)  I am so excited for what the rest of this summer holds.  God, keep showering me with Your blessings!