HOLA!!!

I wanted to write a little update to let folks know what I have been up to the last few weeks. Several of you have told me you enjoyed the updates from Costa Rica, so thanks for that! I am a detail-oriented, passionate woman, so it’s hard to express myself in a brief manner! If you can get through those 2 posts, you are a champ!

 In my last post, I mentioned that I was looking for a job while I’m stateside. Well, a few weeks ago, I just so happened to be in the right place at the right time in one of the  H-E-B grocery stores near my parent’s house. I stopped in to catch up with an old manager friend, and I told her that I was trying to get back on with the company. The admin walked up in the middle of our conversation, and one thing led to another, and she told me to come to the group interview the following week! I used to work with the admin at one point when I was in HS, and saw her a handful of times over the last several years when I was recruiting for H-E-B’s new stores or shopping. It was a total God thing, and after making it through the group interview last Tuesday, I received a call back that evening to have a interview with the Service Director. I met with her on Friday last week, and received a job offer immediately following the interview! I was hired as a cashier ( I did this for years as a teenager and college student and can do this job in my sleep), so my schedule and the number of hours I will work will vary from week to week. Now, I’m just waiting for my offer to go through HR, and they said it takes longer when you are a re-hire. At first, I was frustrated that they haven’t called yet, but then I realized that God is giving me more time to rest and heal! He knows that I’m not ready to stand on my feet for several hours each day!

Just in... an UPDATE on the Update - I just received a call this afternoon while finishing this post that I am scheduled to come in for new hire paperwork this coming Thursday evening!! So, please pray that I can be 100% better by then or at least by my first training date ( no schedule yet).

 Some of you know that I have been experiencing some pain on and off for the past 3 weeks. All you need to know is that I need healing and I need it fast. (The details are too personal for the web BUT... If you REALLY want to know details, I’ll share through e-mail or FB with you.) I’m on day 3 of bed rest (per Dr. Stephanie aka “me“) and have experienced pain more so this weekend at certain points in spite of the rest and home care. I am totally bummed because I really wanted to attend the singles retreat with my church friends this weekend. Over the last 3 weeks, I have completely modified my diet (except for some birthday treats), have modified my workouts ( including not do some at all), and used many home remedies, but I’ve only experienced temporary relief. I have even fasted and prayed.

You are probably wondering why I won’t just go to the doctor. Well, A) I am an all natural sort of gal ( I’ve been reading a lot about this and discovered that my body can do things on its own with good nutrition and is even more amazing than I realized!!!), and B) I have zero medical insurance and very little funds in the bank account right now. I am tired of having to SLOW DOWN!! It’s really annoying for a high energy girl like me!!!!  I am so desperate to feel normal again it’s not even funny! I told Jesus please tell me what lesson I am supposed to learn, so I don’t have to do this again! OUCH…. I do not like pain…. At all!!!! Basically, I told the Lord that I would go to the doctor this week if I didn’t feel better by Monday morning. So, tomorrow I will start making phone calls and try to get an appointment ASAP if I’m still in pain. (PS If you know if a doctor who will give me a missionary discount, please let me know by e-mailing me...stephanielovesjuiceplus@gmail.com)

On the upside of things, I had a very exciting Skype call this past Friday with one of the base leaders at YWAM Hamburg. Steve asked me if I would Skype with him a few weeks ago, and we finally managed to sync our schedules in spite of his busy schedule and the  7 hour time difference. We talked for almost an hour about the ministries they work with, base life, etc. Steve and a man named Jim co-pioneered this base together, and I absolutely love what Steve had to say about  their view on community. They really want to live closely, like a family, even though they are all working with different ministries and have different responsibilities on the base. They don’t want anyone floating out on the edges, and not connected with the team. So many things he shared just resonated deep in my spirit!!!!

 He said he will check to make sure my final reference came in tomorrow, and if they have everything, the leadership team will meet and begin to pray about me coming on board as staff. If all goes as planned, I should know something later this week, and will begin to make plans to either head back to Germany, to Costa Rica, etc. I am really excited about the possibility of heading back to Hamburg, but more than anything, I want to be smack dab in the middle of God’s will for me! I will send out an update as soon as I hear something.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

 * For 100% healing in my body

* For God’s provision to pay for bills, especially medical bills etc.

* For God to speak to the YWAM staff in Hamburg about me joining  

   or not joining their staff team

Thanks and God Bless!!!