The Great Ellie Escapade.
[A Grand Canadian Sunset]
I decided to put that at the beginning because this is going to be way to short of a post to put it anywhere else.
This last year of my life has been filled with so much. So much thought, learning. So many painful growing experiences, so many joyful moments of deep belly laughs and pure contentment. Its been filled with many moments where I sat, staring at a point in the far distance, pondering mindful's of thoughts and decisions. And most of all it, it has been filled with prayer after prayer of continual pleading and laying things down and asking... so much asking. {Some days I practically feel like a hobo with how much ive asked of God... hehee.}
August a year ago, I sporadically decided to finish my summer job in Oregon a few weeks early and jumped in a car with my friend Ashley and went back to Westcliffe Colorado with her. I had no plans in my back pocket, and no next step to take.
August now, {Technically its now Sept, I kno, I kno} I sit in a coffee shop in Manitoba, Canada, with a dear friend, Caitlyn, and five different cups, mugs, and bottles of waters, tea and coffee scattered among our table. One day soon I hope to inform you all about my Canadian adventures, and how I got here, but for now, I've got some other things to expound on^.^
A fun topic I'd like to address first of all, is this: A lot of people have questioned me in the past, and asked, "What are you running from?" [Don't feel bad if you've asked me that... Its rather a valid question considering my lifestyle:)]... But to me, its not what I'm running from, but what I am running towards. I don't really want be in Iowa. True. Iowa sorta stopped being my home about the time I realized I was free and able to travel and explore at my own wish. About the time I discovered there was so much more to the world than corn fields and miles of hog barns {Tho, I suppose those are important parts of life as well}. I wasn't running from my life, I was running towards more life, more knowledge, more experience, more growth, more adventure. And I still like Iowa. I like the big blue, 3 story house I grew up in. I like the people I grew up with, and the ones I met after my growing up slowed down. I like driving like a mad women down the gravel roads, and the small town library I spent hours on end in. I like sitting on our front porch when the threat of a tornado was on the horizon, and the smell of PCS's soft pretzels encouraging and dragging everyone within a 50 mile radius into a Volleyball or Basketball tournament. But, being me, I like a whole lot of other places as well, and I'm not ashamed to say that.
To keep this short and sweet, I would like to start with how overwhelmed, reassured, and thankful I am for the constant grace and faithfulness of our God. Without Him, and his constant guidance and forgiveness, I would not be who I am today...as obvious as that may sound.
Nextly, on to my future escapade:
Next month I plan on moving to Iraq for the next year. Because of security reasons, unfortunately, despite my love for talking and explaining things, I can't give much more info that that on this blog.
But, if you would like to know even just a smidget of what i'll be doing in the Middle East, don't be afraid to ask, I would just Love to tell you all about it! Anyone interested can contact me on WhatsApp, and if you don't have my number, messenger would be a lovely way to get it.
This is a huge step in my life, and I would appreciate any and all prayers you could possibly give. I know that we serve an incredible God, and that prayer should be our weapon of choice. I believe with everything inside me that prayer is beyond powerful. If you would like to commit to supporting me in prayer, month by month, day by day, I would be ever so grateful. I know this next year will be extremely mentally and emotionally exhausting.. and I would also appreciate prayer as I continue to prepare for it.
Another fun topic to discuss is: A lot of people tease me about the fact that I have "Commitment Issues"... This may have some nugget of truth in it, but not entirely. This is an opportunity I have been searching and praying for, for many years. I am deeply excited to give my time to such a thing, and dive into with the power of God on my side. I have such a burning desire to just go and learn. And to do it all with everything God has given me, I want to hold nothing back... and my heart rests assured that God will continue to fill me and equip me to be His hands and feet in those sinking moments when I feel burnt out and attacked.
I will be trying my best to send out monthly 'updates' via WhatsApp {We will see how that goes}. Which will be my main form of communication, so if you don't have the app, I recommend you get it, for various reasons other than just me:) {Its a great App}
I am also aware that some people are interested in giving financially to this. If that's the case, I would be honored to direct you to where you can send those funds. Contacting me via Messenger or WhatsApp would be highly appropriate for that as well.
Beyond many thanks to all those who have encouraged me, prayed for me, and stood by me with this decision into my next escapade. Also, a Huge thank you to everyone who has already offered even just an ounce of financial and prayer support. You'll never fully know how much it truly means to me.
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