God has given us so much guidance, it would be a shame not to give Christ the glory He deserves.
To tell this plan of God and His leading us to Slovenia, I would have to start with when Shawn was in college. Through a series of events that could've only been God leading him, Shawn was called to Slovenia in the most audible voice he'd ever heard from God, "You're going to Slovenia." From that moment on, 10 years ago!, Shawn has never questioned the voice he heard.
He then set his degree aside and persued God at Ecola Bible college. It was there that we met and 7 months later were married and directed to a home through prayer in Oregon. Welcomed by the Ranch Chapel family, we lead the youth group (our passion for ministry) and met the parents of a Josiah Venture, Slovene missionary! CRAZY and LAUGHABLE:) There were only 8 Missionaries in Slovenia at that time... What a miracle!!! ONLY GOD could've arranged such a thing.
After serving there for two years, Shawn and I knew we NEEDED more schooling. We felt very inadequate after serving the youth there! Knowing that we were called to Slovenia, why were we feeling God leading us to Wyoming for more bible schooling? We didn't know, but we did know that God was leading us.
Shawn studied for three years and received his bachelors in pastoral and youth ministry while helping with the youth in Scottsbluff. After graduation we packed out of married student housing and went to Slovenia with our three boys for three months. What a wonderful, but "unsatisfying" time for us. Was this the only three months that God had called us too when He said, "You're going to Slovenia"? Was this three months, it? or was there more in Slovenia to God's calling? The words rang clearer than ever... once again, but this time I heard it too. It was clear He wanted more from us.
Three months went by very quickly and we both had a desire to go back and serve as 'Full time" missionaries.
But yet again, God was placing us in a two year commitment with a job in Cannon Beach that we know God had his hand in. We knew it before we applied and after we left that God had a reason for us to wait that much longer. As our hearts ached for this "waiting on God" to be over, we grew so much in many different areas of our lives!
It was in that waiting time that we had word from Josiah Venture, that we were accepted to be full time missionaries with them. And it was then, that we learned of all the requirements that Josiah Venture missionaries need.
1. Three years of youth experience (did that!)
2. A bachelors in Christian Ministry (did that too)
3. To be a summer intern in the country where you are assigned too (did that one too!)
4. We had to be invited back by a Slovene National
God miraculously brought us along the path to do all these requirements, 3 of which we didn't even know they existed!
Man's steps are ordained by the LORD, how then can man understand his way? Proverbs 20:24
JV called in early September and said that a Slovene is asking for us to come back. They also asked if we would be ready for Orientation on the 4th of October. Our two year commitment ended on the 1st of October (which JV had NO IDEA).We left our home in Cannon Beach the day the two year commitment ended and got to Chicago not a minute late. What a God we have!!! PERFECTION!!!!!!!
I am excited that this story does not end with the words THE END, but rather
TO BE CONTINUED...
