PA takes OH

July 14, 2017

6 months.

6 months ago I took a huge step of faith and moved 400 miles away from my home.

6 months ago I began an incredible journey that I can only describe as God ordained, faith-filled, and breath taking. It has been crazy, wonderful, stressful, exciting, amazing, growing, and perfect. It hasn't been perfect because nothing has gone wrong but because I am here because God called me and I know that his plans and purposes are far greater than mine.

Here's a summary of the last 6 months.

July 14th began a love-hate relationship with my beloved car, Leia. My parents were traveling with me to help me move when 15 miles from my newfound home, my car decided to eject a spark plug. Then it almost happened again two months later. Then my belt broke twice, my AC compressor busted, and the seal on my sunroof is going.

But you see, this saga of car trouble isn't a bad thing. In fact it's quite amazing because every single time, God came through. He was with me through every malfunction and broken part. He gave me friends here, specifically one, who so freely and joyfully helped with repairs and finding parts. He gave me opportunities to trust in him with paying for repairs, with managing anxiety, and everything in between. God using stressful things like this for good - to show that He there and ready and willing to step in and help us.

July 14th also began my role as the Legacy Kids Preschool Leader at Legacy Church. In just 6 months God has already taught me so much about myself, these kids, ministry, and so much more. While writing lessons and prepping activities I find Him whispering to me the things I greatly needed to here at that time.

I remember one lesson specifically that hit me. It was back in October. I was laying on the couch typing up the lesson about how Jesus calmed the sea. I typed this sentence and just stopped.

They didn’t believe that God was going to take care of them in the storm, so they woke up Jesus to make the storm go away.

It made me realize that maybe we need to stop praying the storm away and trust that God is holding us in his hand in the midst of the storm. Sometimes it helps to here things in "kid language" so that we can take to heart what God is trying to say to us - to help us hear him clearly. And that is just one reason why I love my job so much.

Actually, I love both jobs. During the day I teach preschool at Columbus Early Learning Centers in downtown Columbus. We are an early headstart/headstart non-profit center that does everything in it's power to provide services for the kids and their families. We fight to give our kids the best education before they head to kindergarten. We feed their minds, but we also feed their hearts. We let them be kids, we teach them that it's okay to be angry but the right way to deal with it, and we teach them what it means to be a kind friend.

I get to show them the love of Jesus every day, and I couldn't be happier. While it is stressful, crazy, exhausting, and full of hurt for these kids and what they deal with, I am so blessed that God chose this place for me to be.

A year and a half ago I felt God nudging me to move to Ohio. Did I listen? No. I wanted to focus on school, my job, and my family and friends. But really, I wanted to focus on me. I wasn't ready for what He had in store for me. I spent my senior year of college ignoring the quiet nudges He was giving me because I was so caught up in what I was doing. I wasn't focused on what He wanted for me.

Then one day last February it just hit me. I whispered to myself, "I'm moving to Ohio". I graduated college on May 14th, and just 2 short months later I was on the road to my new home.

And now 6 months later I am in awe of all that God has done in me, Legacy Church, and Legacy Kids.

I can't wait to see what He has in store for these next 6 months.

Much love + blessings,

Becky

Cornfields to Skyscrapers

July 14, 2017

This date is so so dear to me. On this day, I took a giant leap of faith and moved me, myself, and I out to Columbus, Ohio. God has such a funny sense of humor and there are so many small stories that line up into one big story. God's story. His story of getting my attention and giving me the courage and boldness to follow him passionately and joyfully, wherever that would take me. On July 14, 2017, I packed up my life in PA (because who actually calls it Pennsylvania) and made the 7 hour road trip with my parents.

And now I've been here for a whole month. I wanted to write sooner, but my life in Ohio took off almost immediately and I just haven't had the chance. I moved on Friday and started my job on Monday. I am SO excited to tell you that I am a full-time preschool teacher in the city of Columbus! I also now attend and work with Legacy Church as their preschool children's leader! Now, if y'all know me at all, you know that I am NOT a city person. I like my cornfields, cows, windy roads, and open skies. But let me tell you. God has a funny sense of humor. He took this woods-and-water-and-open-spaces-loving girl and stuck her in the city with traffic, big highways, and lots of people. He took me from cornfields to skyscrapers.

I can say that this has been the most eye-opening, heart-breaking, motivating transition of my life. This is my city.

I'll say it again.

This is MY city.

In my city, in my school, these kids are broken. They don't all have the life I did or that we hope each child has. Some kids don't sleep, some don't know a parent, some switch houses frequently, and some have parents who don't understand the value of a child.

This past week has been a little crazy. I was kicked. I was hit. I was spat on. I was yelled at, disrespected, and ignored. All by children. But you see, this just makes my heart break for them even more because I KNOW they have been created for a purpose and I KNOW that they have a heavenly Father who loves and cherishes them immensely. Through all of this misbehavior, I see brokenness. I see loneliness. I see a child who just needs some pure, honest love.

It may be stressful and crazy and overwhelming, but I know that God uses these situations to help us to grow into the people He created us to be. And I know that while I am here, He is going to use me to make a difference in the lives of these children. His children.

God has brought me hear for a purpose, and it's a divine purpose. He has a plan and His plans are for good.

It's been a crazy month. But it's been a good month. And I am thankful for the many more months to come full of learning, growing, stretching, and getting uncomfortable.

Much love + blessings,

Becky

So I Will Go

My whole life I have been chasing the plans God had for me. Yeah, I had some bumps along the way. You could say I fell into a ditch and struggled to climb my way out. But I've always been faithful in stepping into the next adventure God placed at my feet.

I've been on some great adventures: traveling with Holy Hands, working with FL Kids, being on Youth Staff, teaching in Honduras for almost 2 months, teaching in North Philadelphia, embracing the life of kindergarteners, and attending the best university in the state (I promise that's a completely unbiased opinion, obviously).

//Bravely following God's call all over the world with coffee in hand and joy in my heart//

This is my mission statement. This is why I'm here. These words echo through my thoughts with each
decision I make and each step I take. There are a few more words that I strive to make true about myself.

"Living a life full of adventure."

I don't want to lead some boring, monotonous, stale life. I want excitement. I want change. I want challenge. I want to joyfully and passionately embrace each new season that God brings to my life. Each new season is a new adventure.

I'm on to my next adventure. I am so filled with joy to tell you that I will be faithfully pursuing God's plan and purpose for my life by taking a leap and moving to the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio.

It's sad to think that I will be leaving the church I have called home for the first 21 years of my life. Freedom Life has taught me so many things and brought so much passion and love for Jesus into my soul. I've met some amazing people and made the most wonderful, life-long friends. Freedom Life with always be family.

I am taking all I have learned from my pastors, mentors, leaders, and friends and bringing it to Legacy Church in Columbus, Ohio. This July begins a new season full of fun, growth, challenges, and new experiences.

I said this before beginning my student teaching, and I'll say it with each new beginning.

In the wonderful words of Bilbo Baggins, "I'm going on an adventure!".

Much love + blessings,

Becky xoxo

He Said "Go"

People ask me a lot why I like paper airplanes and why I have a tattoo of one. Well here it is kids. It's story time.

I have the coolest parents who love Jesus more than anyone I know. Their hearts for people and our Father are SO great. God called them to reach people, just like He calls all of us. But for them it was special. From the first moment I can remember, I was taught to serve. 

My earliest memories are from Florida because when I was 2 years old, my dad took a giant step of faith and moved our whole family to Pensacola. God told him to go into ministry and attend Brownsville Revival School of Ministry. I don't remember much other than our tire swing in our giant tree out back, lighting fireworks in the driveway, riding my bike with my brother and our friends, hopping the fence to go to the neighbor's, and Missionettes. What's Missionettes? Picture the Girl Scouts, except we were taught about serving, honoring, and glorifying our Lord. However, my proudest memory is standing in the kitchen with my mom while Craig ate cereal out of his green bowl with a straw and giving my life to Jesus at 5 years old.

Because of my parents' faithfulness and dedication to serving Jesus, I grew up knowing who Jesus was, what He did for me, and loving Him for it. When I was just a little girl who still loved pink and pig-tails, I went on my first missions trip with my parents. I may not remember it, but I can guarantee that I am who I am now because of that experience. 

Every minute of every day of my life, I've been taught to serve. I've been taught to honor. I've been taught to show grace and to forgive. Every day I have been taught to show Jesus to those who don't know Him, and every day I learn more and more of what that looks like. 

I was heartbroken when my parents wouldn't let me go to England with my brother on a missions trip. I even wrote them a letter explaining why I should go. 12 year old Becky wanted nothing more than to travel and serve Jesus. I am thankful that they wouldn't let me go because it lit a fire in me that has yet to fade. A fire and a passion to see the wonder of God's creation and to spread His love among the nations. 

Little did I know at 12 years old that I was born into a missions-centered family and that God put that fire in me for a reason. I grew up watching my parents travel, watching my brother travel, and traveling with them to follow the great commission. My greatest memories, moments, summers, and adventures involved hopping in a van or plane or car and traveling to nearby cities and distant lands to do what I was created to do. Serve Jesus. 

Just for fun, here's a list. 

2009: one week in Philadelphia

2010: one week in Philadelphia

2011: one week in Haiti

2012: two weeks in Honduras

2013: five weeks traveling PA + NY with Holy Hands (One18)

2014: one week in Honduras

2015: seven weeks in Honduras

7 years. 7 trips. 18 weeks.

2016 was a rough year for me. I had such an itch to jump on a plane and fly off to the place God had for me next. I committed to going to Romania, but that trip was canceled not long after it was announced. I had options and I prayed. I asked God to show me where to go next and told him that all I wanted in life was to follow the path He had for me. What He told me has stayed with me since. 

He said, "Go somewhere you don't want to go to do what I have created you to do."

Now, this has a few significant parts. Isn't it funny how God knows EXACTLY what will get your attention because of multiple prayers you've prayed? 

"Do what I have created you to do."

I talk to God a lot when I'm in the car. That's where I spend most of my Jesus time. We had a conversation about a year and a half ago about what He wanted me to do. At that time, I had a few semesters of school left and was looking for what direction He wanted me to go. I knew I was called to work with kids, but I didn't know in what capacity. That day He told me. "You are created to teach kids about Jesus."

"Go somewhere you don't want to go..."

I have a list. It's a long list. It's a list of all of the places I want to go, all the places I want to see, all the places I wouldn't hesitate to travel. There were countries I didn't have any interest in, never crossed my mind, or just plain didn't want to see. So when God told me somewhere I didn't want to go, I was surprised that I didn't hesitate. I said, "Okay, God. Use me. Stretch me." I knew exactly where he was talking about.

I have had less than 0% interest in going to Africa. One of the options I had was to go to Zimbabwe to help in an orphanage and go to schools and put on assemblies. I had instant peace when God answered the way He did because I knew what He meant. I was called to go to Africa. Or so I thought. 

I was more excited than I had been for any other trip. I started fundraising right away. God provided in some amazing ways, right down to getting my airfare money in THE DAY IT WAS DUE. My heart was so full and I was so ready to get on that plane. I was broken when the trip fell through only a few hundred dollars short of my overall cost. I thought He called me to go to Africa, but it turns out He called me to trust Him in ways I had forgotten were possible. I learned to rely on Him when all seems lost, to pray bold prayers, and to bravely follow Him.

These are lessons I keep close to my heart every day. God has called me to a life of missions. He has called me to a life of serving Him, loving kids, and bravely following him. 

Bravely following God's call all over the world to teach kids about Jesus. 

So really, the paper airplane is only a part of the story.

Much love + blessings,

Becky

Little Victories

I have been up hours and hours past my bedtime almost every night this week. 

I don't say this to complain. I say this because with every goal, dream, and desire we have comes dedication, strong will, and sacrifice. These things come from passion, and remembering why we have that dream in the first place. 

I am only a handful of months away from graduating and becoming a teacher. While that thought is a little scary and overwhelming, I am overcome with emotion because I know that all the late nights, tears, and frustration will be worth making a difference in the lives of students. It's not easy and I get discouraged more often than I care to admit. But teaching is what I love doing. It's what God has called me to do. 

I want to tell you a story about a student I had in my classroom in Philadelphia. This boy, let's call him Michael, would come into class crying every day. He would walk into the room, sit at his desk for a moment, unpack his backpack, then return to his seat with his books in front of him. He never said a word. He just cried. For weeks, it was the same routine. My heart broke for him almost immediately. All I wanted to do was help him, to figure out what was going on and to make it better. Being a teacher is more than just teaching the curriculum and giving assessments. Being a teacher means you are filled with compassion, empathy, patience, and grace. 

It took lots and lots of patience with Michael. Every morning I would greet him with a smile, help him with his things, and sit next to him during morning reading. I would talk to him, offering him encouragement and an ear to hear what was wrong. He hardly spoke. It was mainly head nods and more tears. After the first couple weeks, I noticed he started to follow along with the class and pay attention to the head teacher's instructions. He would complete his work in class, still clearly upset with the occasional outbursts of tears. But then he started raising his hand. I remember that moment, the first time I saw him participate in class. He would answer questions and write on the board. My heart leaped because I knew that a bigger breakthrough was coming. 

It only took a few more weeks until the day came when he didn't cry at all during class. This may not seem like a big deal to some people. Maybe they're thinking, Finally it's quiet in here and I can focus. He was so disruptive. I'll be honest, I didn't notice at first. I saw a student who was eating breakfast and reading his books in the beginning of the day. That was our routine. I think that I didn't notice at first because I saw a student working towards being successful. I saw a student who wanted to learn. I believed in him from day one, and when I saw him working it was like that's how it had always been. I saw the student I knew was there all along. 

Those are the greatest joys of teaching; the little gains. Knowing you helped a student take one more step forward when they never thought they could. I still don't know what was going on at home or in his life that made him so upset during the day. But I know that being patient and showing him grace showed him the love of Jesus, whether he knew it or not. 

It's these seemingly small victories that make it all worth it. It's seeing the breakthroughs, the success, and the joy in a child's eyes while they're learning that reminds me why I do what I do. 

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him." - Psalms 127:3

Children are a gift. I am honored that God has called me to share his love with them and to teach them about His son. I am learning more every day that teaching children about Jesus goes beyond a Sunday morning. It's every day, in every moment, with everything you do. 

Every action, every word, and every expression has the potential to show Jesus to a child whether you mention his name or not. 

Let's make them count. 

Much love + blessings, 

Becky 

Embracing the Uncomfortable

I am not a morning person. 

In fact, I am the last person you want to talk to in the morning. That is, until I've had my coffee. Waking up when it's still dark out isn't fun. The only thing I really like getting up early for are deer, fish, and planes. 

But this semester there's a new reason: school. I have the honor of teaching and assisting in a 1st grade classroom at Julia de Burgos Bilingual Elementary School in the heart of Philadelphia twice a week. In all honesty, when I found out I was placed in the School District of Philadelphia I was less than thrilled. I immediately began to think about traffic, driving, my dislike towards cities in general, the differences between me and my students, and pretty much every other negative thing you could think there is.

My first day did not go as I had hoped. I was pouring, dark, gloomy, and stressful. That was just the 2 hour commute to the school. Once I was in the room, I felt at home. But after that commute I began to think about everything that could go wrong throughout my time in Philly. However, this morning was a different story. 

I woke up a little late and thought to myself, "Great, it's only day 2.". 

During my drive, my attitude began to change. It started with seeing the sunrise, something that I had not experienced on my first day. The sky was full of cotton candy clouds as the sun made it's appearance. I thought, "Wow! THIS is what I get to see twice a week!". 

Notice the word get. God transformed my spirit of negativity into one that recognizes the blessings in the midst of change and new experiences. 

As I reached the outskirts of Philadelphia, I felt my heart begin to change - a stirring in my soul. A phrase popped into my head that has been on repeat the entire day. 

I feel like I'm going to grow to love this city.

Now, if you know me at all then you know that I don't like cities. I don't like the traffic, the congestion, everything being so fast paced and close together. I like my fields and back roads and wild animals. But I still felt this stirring and then an indescribable joy take over. 

I feel like I'm going to grow to love this city. 

I walked through the doors of Julia de Burgos Bilingual Elementary School with a new attitude. One of love, joy, compassion, and peace. I greeted the students, watched them unpack their backpacks, and saw a new generation rising up to change the world. It doesn't matter if they are from downtown Philly or the cornfields of Lancaster. They are sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers, fathers, businessmen, teachers, pastors, counselors, secretaries, office workers; they are world changers and they are full of potential. 

My heart has already grown to love this city so much, and I thank God for making me uncomfortable. It's through our discomfort that we are stretched, and it's through being stretched that we grow. 

Allow God to make you uncomfortable. Don't remain stagnant because you're scared of what might happen. Instead, be excited for what could happen. 

Much love + blessings, 

xoxo Becky

Whispers

It's a Tuesday in the beginning of the semester, a time when I'm not really thinking about anything other than school work and deadlines and other responsibilities. But as I am sitting in the Outdoor Classroom embracing the gorgeous weather and scenery, God is whispering.

I was reminded of the intimacy we have when we are in relationship with God.

"It's nice to know I'm not alone. I've found my home here in your arms." -We Dance

We are never alone. God is just a shout, cry, or whisper away. He excitedly embraces us when we run to him. There is nothing too big or too small, no reason for us not to be welcomed into his arms. Even when we are angry with God, he still loves us.

I was also reminded that while it can be painful and difficult to have God close doors, nothing compares to what he has in store for us in the future. He closes doors because he loves us so much.

// I'm going to stop for a minute. I started this post in the morning, and have been trying to organize my thoughts into a somewhat coherent mess out of the the jumbled hot mess that they are, but I think I'm just going to run the train on the track it's going. Bare with me. \\

God uses music to speak to me a lot, and sometimes I don't even realize he's trying to get my attention. But this morning was different. Almost every song that played had a small, very specific message for me. And while I would love to write about all of them, I think the most important thing I took away from today encompasses all of them.

God whispers.

Let me say that again.

God whispers. 

I don't know about you, but when I heard about God speaking to other people I always imagined a strong, deep, clearly audible voice shouting from the Heavens so you wouldn't miss it. I quickly learned that that wasn't always the case (because it's God and he can do what he wants, if he wants to shout he totally could). I struggled with this for a long time, and I still do at times. I wanted to really know when God was trying to speak to me. I wanted it to be dramatic.

There have been times where I was 100% sure that God was talking, and other times I had to consult mentors and leaders. Today he showed up so many times with small, fortune-cookie-like reminders.

That's when I realized that he whispers too. All we have to do is listen. I needed to escape the craziness of senior year, field classes, homework assignments, and church responsibilities and embrace God's presence. I made my life a little quieter for an hour and began to worship his love and power and grace.

God wants to meet us where we're at. We just have to be willing to shut out the world and listen. Listen for his whispers.

I hope and I pray that you would rest in his presence and hear him. He hears you.

Much love + blessings,

Becky