I have not written on here in so long. I tend to write while I am overseas doing missions but not while I am here in the states. My life isn't as interesting these days and the things I want to write about I cannot because its all confidential. I was thinking about this blog recently however and I realize I never really explained to people where I am at so I get asked on a regular basis. So the purpose of this blog is to update you guys on whats going on in my life.
I returned back to Wisconsin in May after living in Mexico for about 4 months and then visiting my sister in Oaxaca. It was a very painful transition. Honestly my heart is overseas, it has been for as long as I can remember. I never really felt I "fit" in the US. It's nearly daily that my heart aches to return to my kiddos back in Africa and Mexico. Most of the time I do not allow myself to even think about them in fears of allowing my discontentment to stir up.
I decided to return home in order to go back to school. In all of the orphanages I worked at I saw a huge need for counselors. I noticed children with such dark painful pasts but little to no efforts being put to help those children work through what they've gone through. So I returned to begin my degree in social work or counseling but I knew I would not be able to keep myself in one place if I didn't find a immediate purpose for being in that spot. Sure I was working towards a long term purpose with being in school but I needed to be daily living with purpose. So I applied to a job that I had been considering applying to for many years. Well I got the job and so since September I have been working in an Americorps position with Project Youth Runaway and Youth Services, as a Youth Advocate Outreach Worker. It's a runaway prevention program where we work with individual youth, families, and schools to prevent kids from running. Kids don't just up and run for no reason, often there are many things that lead to it so we work with families and youth trying to make home a safe comfortable place to be. Our prevention work has many facets to it whether it be meeting with students one on one in a sort of mentorship session, family mediations, we do different groups such as anger management group, have youth "drop in" which is a time to just hang out and maintain relationships, and much more. This job has been extremely stretching but I really love it and the youth are so incredible. I have learned SO much and GOd is really breaking my heart for Sheboygan.
So things with school and work are going well but one area I am struggling in is having other believers in my life. I miss fellowship and the encouragement that is found with community. I yearn to have other people around me who are passionate about their faith and allow Christ to impact every aspect of their lives. God has really blessed me with Hana who is now my discipler and such a good friend to me. I see God working in her heart and I'm continually praying that the things that the Lord has burdened our hearts with would become so contageous that others will jump on board. I need to see Christ work in this place.
So there you have a sum up of whats happening here. Feel free to write I LOVE to hear from people. God bless you.
Samantha
