I've had people ask me a couple questions over the last few months and I figured what better way to answer them than all at once. Yay technology!
Where have you been lately?
Throughout high school, college and the years following I've spent my summers, either weeks of it or the entire thing, at Circle Square Ranch. It's a summer camp for kids and in the non-summer months, what we call the off-season, it is a retreat and conference center. In the last two summers I have moved into a stronger leadership position which involved directing the leadership training program for our up and coming staff members. I then worked primarily in the office for the remainder of the summer. In September I was brought on as a year round support staff. Since then my job has consisted primarily of cooking meals for retreat groups, managing guest rooms and over seeing the general cleaning and upkeep of the building. As we prepare for camp, my work has shifted me into the office where I take calls, process camper registrations and coordinate upcoming retreats and events. I absolutely love my job and the people I interact with on a daily basis. I have been so blessed in my time here and God has used this time to prepare me for the next phase of my life. But more about that in a minute.
Did you back slide?
No one's asked me this but somebody once told their kids I had back slidden (a churchy term for not going to church any more) because I hadn't been around for a few months. (They didn't realize I had moved away for Bible college. Awkward.)
Are you ever moving back to Ottawa?
Since my involvement with the ranch, I have developed a keen interest in serving others through cooking and hosting. Something that started out as an off-handed comment about one day owning a bed and breakfast has become a full fledged dream that I am currently beginning to live out. In September of this year I will be moving to Kingston to attend St Lawrence College. I'm taking a two and a half year program that will land me a double diploma, one in Hospitality and Tourism Management and another in Hotel and Restaurant Management. I am passionate about what I do and I have been blessed with a skill set that will take me far within this industry. I aim to work within the hospitality and tourism industry for many years to come. My long term goal is to one day own and operate a bed and breakfast. This will most likely occur once I am more settled into yet another stage of my life. This stage will probably include a terribly handsome husband and precious little ones. Hint: not for a little while ;) Hence why it is a long term goal. However, I'm very excited to begin the process of learning and working in an area that I absolutely have grown to love.
What about ministry? Someone asked me if I was walking away from my calling to ministry, specifically involving students. I fully intend on getting connected with a church in Kingston and maintaining my connections with Circle Square Ranch and Community Pentecostal Church in Ottawa. Both have played a significant role in my life and have brought me to where I am now. I still have an incredible heart for God and for ministry and for youth. I see my education, work experience and career path as a means by which I can live for God and serve others. This is just the beginning.
God has been all over this decision to move to Kingston, almost to the point where I feel like all I've had to do was show up. He has been dropping details into the picture left, right and center. From the college, the program, my apartment and potential job opportunities, God has been lining things up WAY better than I ever could. I am blown away and almost speechless when I look at all of the doors He has been opening.
I'd appreciate your prayers over the next little while as I continue to move forward into the plans God has for me. I'm over the moon excited and I cannot wait to see what God does next.
St Lawrence has this little saying - "First you dream it, then you live it." Sounds like a plan to me.
