OUR BIG ADVENTURE
I dreamed that I
sat next to my husband Chris as he spoke on the phone to someone named White
Rose. A year later, I recalled this
dream, while sitting next to Chris as he spoke on the phone to White Rose
Ambulance. This August 19 phone call
began our journey eastward. This dream
has not been the only prophetic direction we have experienced in our most
recent journey. Significant scriptures and
events have taken place regularly on the 19th, almost every month
since my dream. For example, April 19, I
read and journaled the following: “Behold!
I am doing a new thing you do not see.
I am making a way in the wilderness and in mighty waters!-Isaiah
43:16-19. Fear not, for I have redeemed
you; summoned you by name; you are mine.
I am with you when you pass through the waters. When you pass through rivers, they will not
sweep over you. When you walk through
fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. You are precious and honored in my sight. I love you Isaiah 43:1-4. You will show me the paths of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand are pleasures
forevermore. Psalm 16:11. The Lord is close to those who suffer
disappointment and saves those who are discouraged. Psalm 34:8.
I then googled: “devotional, stuck” and stumbled upon a devotional
which urged us to “Do not get stuck in the land of almost. Step in to the promised land!”
Dear Lord, show us how to!
Next month, Chris
would receive a pay cut, when his employer gave a friend the Supervisor
position. In the meantime, God protected
and blessed our daughters with new jobs and promotions. Both had been fighting battles with a bully in
the workplace, from which God delivered.
Chris received a personal invitation to apply to a County position,
which led to realization that better was on the horizon.
Reminding us again, on May 19 with “Fear not for I am with thee; be not dismayed for I am thy God, I will
strengthen thee; yes I will help thee and uphold thee with my right hand of
righteousness. Isaiah 41:10” The lord is
my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Hebrew 13:6 Love your enemies, do good to
those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:27-28 and He spoke our hearts plea in,
“Oh Lord I am oppressed be my pledge of safety!” Isaiah 38:14. I had been battling vertigo attacks and
aspirating for weeks, which began Mother’s Day.
Ironically, when the news came of Chris’ demotion and pay cut, the
oppression lifted.
Later that week, Chris, and I marveled over our fortune
cookies’ insight, “a sudden change in plans will lead to good fortune,” to
which mine echoed, “He who has hope has everything.” WE continued to cling to God’s promises such
as, “But those who hope in the Lord will
renew their strength, May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give
you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, and the
peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus. Isaiah
40:31, Romans 15:5, Philippians 4:7.”
These words soothed us like a balm and a shield, as we fought hurt and
anger. Those, whom Chris had looked out
for and blessed, now turned their backs on him.
It was a hard pill to swallow and remain loving towards them. God remained our rock, our fortress, and our
deliverer, our rock in whom we took refuge.
He was our shield and strength of our salvation, our stronghold, just as
promised in Psalm 18:2.
We soldiered on and God continued to strengthen us, and gave
us snippets of how He was redeeming Chris.
For instance, despite the pay cut, the next paycheck tripled due to
Chris returning to regular pay instead of salary. Our eldest daughter who had married in June,
announced in July, she is expecting our first grandbaby! July 19th, I journaled: “I know
change is coming- we stand ready for the Promised Land. Help us to endure the desert, Lord. Guide us show us the path. Thank you, Lord.”
August 15th, Chris decided to google jobs in Pennsylvania,
since he had been receiving property notifications after on a whim; he followed
a link one day and discovered extremely affordable land in that area. We long
dreamed of living east of the Mississippi. “I figured if I was going to look for
property, I might as well see what kind of jobs were available there. So, I googled paramedic jobs in
Pennsylvania.” White Rose invited him
for an in-person interview when we would be visiting Kayla in Virginia the
following month. The interview scheduled
for September 19 proved to be his hiring date!
Returning after vacation on September 27, he gave his two-week notice
and prepared for his cross-country trek to report for licensing in Pennsylvania
on October 11. We resisted temptation to
give notice while still on vacation, resisted, knowing it was not the right way
to handle.
Miraculously, when the process began to reciprocity from
California to Pennsylvania following his phone interview, God moved
mountains. Everything, including the
part California licensure played, which never goes smoothly, went smoothly and
within perfect timing to transition! From
the beginning, everyone we have been in contact with in York, Pennsylvania, has
gone out of his or her way to help us. Numbers
13:25, 14:9 reminded us that no giants are too big for our mighty God! Following prayer, we erected a GoFundMeaccount and remain in awe of all who graciously donated to help fund our travel
and interim between paychecks, as we follow our dream to East of the
Mississippi.
Therefore, here we are well into our journey. Chris is finishing training. The management and crews of White Rose have
blessed us immensely- upon discovering his intent to camp out in pickup truck,
they arranged for an unused room be set up for him to sleep. Last night, coworkers offered him room in
exchange for maintenance until able to afford housing. All the continued scriptural guidance leading
East to the Promised Land proves true.
God is using these generous souls as His Hands and Feet and we remain
humbly, overwhelmingly blessed. My
initial visit extended with Kayla and my son-in-love, who graciously offered me
shelter in order to be closer to Chris.
Kylie remains home in California to look after Grandma and finish
schooling, preparing for externship. God
is able. We still do not know the
details of housing, selling in California, buying here, all those intricate
little details that God finds ever easy
to manipulate and perfect. We boxed
ourselves into a two-year plan, but God took our willingness and accelerated
the timeline. Trusting in His perfect Will,
we cling to His promises and enjoy the ride!