How High Should I Jump?: Texas Bound

So...a lot has gone down in the last few weeks. About a month ago I received an email passing along an opportunity to serve with the Texas Hunger Initiative in a partnership with Baylor University, which is all under the umbrella of the Americorps Summer VISTA program (probably more details than any of you need or understand though ;-)). As soon as I opened the email and read about this program, I had the urge to just drop everything and go. After resisting the urge to jump out of my seat and secure the soonest flight to Texas, the logical side of my brain kicked in, and I wanted to think on it for a few days, and then apply if I still felt like it. But I knew that if I didn't fill out the application right away, I never would. So I filled out an application form within minutes of reading about this program, submitting nothing more than my name, major, and interest in serving through THI. I submitted it with a deep breath, a few words of prayer for wisdom, and decided not to tell anyone about it for the sake of avoiding making it into a big deal if it wasn't actually going to happen.

That night, I laid in bed, unable to sleep, and wrestled with God. I so very badly did not want to be away from home this summer; with everything that my family went through last year, I was looking forward to a summer of simply savoring time with them. Cara and I had been keeping a countdown of the days until I would return home for the summer, and I knew that choosing to take this opportunity over spending the summer with my family could potentially hurt a lot of feelings. But God kept reminding me that He calls us to drop everything, (not just the things that are easy to drop, but absolutely everything) and go where He calls. Laying in my bed in the wee hours of the night, tears streaming down my face, I said "Okay, God, I will go where You call. Even if that means away from my family, even if that means to Texas for the summer. You're saying jump, so I'm going to jump. But I'm not going to ask how high, because I have a feeling that if I saw how far You're going to call me to go, I would be too scared to listen. So my answer is okay. I will go. As far as You call."

Approximately 36 hours later I had a voicemail message from the program director, completed a phone interview just a week after I had applied, and found out that I had been selected for the program about a week and a half later, the day that I was moving out of my dorm. After hanging up the phone call that had secured my summer, I ran into my room where my roommates were packing up (they were some of the few whom I had told about this). I quietly said "Guess what, everyone?", but there was no hiding the what with the grin on my face. I lifted both arms in the air and yelled "I'M GOING TO TEXAS, BABY!!!!" The room erupted into screams and we were quickly consumed by lots and lots of hugging and yelling over each other. I believe I was ordered to return in the fall with a pair of cowgirl boots and a Southern gentleman...back to the point though.

All of this has come up so quickly, and has involved quite a bit of coordination. My family, although sad that I will be away for the summer, has come together to do everything possible to make this work for me. I knew right away that I wouldn't be able to bring my old lemon of a high school car cross-country, and finding a reliable, affordable car to purchase has been a team effort (met with success tonight as I prepare to purchase the cutest shiny red car, which seriously makes me feel like a grown up). My mom and I will begin the drive on June 8th (my first day of service is June 11th), and then she'll fly back home, leaving me down there to serve until August 6th.

Strangely, I  have about 0% fear going into this. I am more than anything, completely and totally excited to have the opportunity to impact hungry people this summer, and can not wait to see what God has in store for me and others. I know that He has my back, so without any fear or trepidation (and a lot more confidence than my mother would prefer), I am Texas bound.

I intend to be a much better blogger this summer, and narrate my experiences right here. Wanna come along on this adventure with me? If you see it through my eyes, and grab a hold of God's hand, there is nothing to be afraid of!