I’ve Got Some News….

Beth Moore has said that a year of ones life can be summed up by a theme. What’s yours? For me the theme of 2011 was perseverance.

I have been told I haven’t been posting enough on my blog. While that is true there are immense treasures I have stowed away in my heart throughout this year that I chose to keep hidden. Let me recap you on some of the goings on in the life of Elissa.

After my return from my second trip to Africa the beginning of January, I felt challenged and convicted in regards to serving the least. I had the greatest of intentions in being available to go and serve wherever needed, whenever possible. God spoke directly to my heart and challenged me to serve and love here in Tennessee. My prayer life since then has become intentional of finding what that exact avenue would be. No immediate answer arose.

I began babysitting regularly for a family in January which provided a mutual benefit for all parties involved: I needed to pay off debt and my friends needed child care. It was good deal all round.

February through August proved to be the hardest months I have ever faced as I endured change in major areas of life including relationships, job, finances, etc.  To add insult to injury, the one voice I needed to hear the most through the trying season seemed absent. Where was God when I so desperately needed him? Did he even care what I was facing?

Months passed with continual struggle but little change. The hardest thing was the absence of understanding of what the change was for. Then one day, like someone turned the light on in a dark room, the cloud lifted. Now it is nearly the end of 2011 and my heart is in a different state than when the year began. I am debt free, light hearted, joyful and at peace. More importantly, God has answered my fervent prayer and I now have a purpose and a plan. Are you ready to know what that is?

Before I share I want to stress that God was in fact talking even in the moments I felt he was silent. I believe this season provided a different way of listening for him which produced a new level of faith.

So, in 2012 I will be applying to become a foster parent here in Nashville. My mom asked me this summer if I had ever thought of fostering since my brother and his wife had (they went on to adopt the two siblings). I wrote it off. As if I could or should do something like that in my state of singleness. Then it hit me. Really, it was God speaking directly to my heart. Why not me? Why am I limiting my own ability?

I have worked through many questions, concerns and struggles as I have prayed through this venture. I have surrendered my ways of thinking and operating for those of Christ. I am utterly broken for children that are forgotten and in need of love. It has been confirmed numerous times and continues to be that this is my path where I am to serve. How could I not open my life and home to a child who is desperate for it? I put my YES on the table a long time ago and I meant it.

There are a couple things I am working on so that I will be in a stable position to go forward with the fostering process. Securing an appropriate work schedule and housing are first and foremost on the list. Please join me in this through prayer that God would be glorified in each and every step.

2011 was a hard year. It was a rather fast year as well. I am thankful for God taking me through the hard things of life, teaching me to preserve when I wanted to often give up and showing me that with Him I will come out on the other side stronger. Our God is faithful! Stay tuned for regular updates. For those who think I should up my blog postings, be careful what you wish for. You might just get more than you bargained for!