Concerning midwesterners...

          Here is what I know of small town midwesterners, we're a simple folk, not uneducated mind you, but we find joy and beauty in simple things- a delicious meal of meat and potatoes, rolling hills, a warm breeze, quiet nights on a porch among others. Much like hobbits of the shire we share a love of things that grow, we are comfortable with our midwest routine and rarely do we step out for life-changing adventures...It seems fitting/ironic then that I'm leaving for New Zealand..the very place that Lord of the Rings was filmed depicting said hobbits who don't go looking for adventures.   
          For so many months I've had this trip at the back of my mind and now that it is actually happening I couldn't be more excited..and a little nervous. For those of you that don't know what this trip entails let me break down what I know...I'm flying to New Zealand tonight! I'll be in Oxford, NZ for three months completing a Discipleship Training School with YWAM (youth with a mission). From New Zealand the entire group (from what I hear around 50)  is split up and sent all over the world to work with established missionaries. We could be sent to any of the continents, excluding North America and Antartica and I don't think Australia either... we'll travel around our designated continent working and spreading the love of Jesus! We'll do this for three months as well and then reconvene in Jerusalem to "graduate" on the Mt. of Olives! Talk about an adventure huh? Some of you may be asking "what compelled her to do this, to quit her nursing job (i love you jo3b) and give this a go?!" Well, simply put it was the Lord's call. This past year I've felt an itch to do more with my life, to get to know the Lord better and to have an adventure. Don't get me wrong I have enjoyed living in Rochester and working as an RN, but right now there is more for me. So as I step out I will gladly take prayers that my faith in the Lord will increase ten fold, that I will be blessed with abundant courage, that I will fall even more in love with Jesus, and that I will have the time of my life!
I'll write more when I'm settled/organized so check back often for updates/pictures!
Much Love,
Becky