Hello Family & Friends!! We are enjoying our last few days as Indiana dwellers & college students! Words cannot contain how excited we both are to graduate & be closer to family for a while. The joys of this week include having an excuse to organize & pack up our whole house , hanging out with friends, and finally being done with assignments/finals. The trials include countless ceremonies, to-do lists that now fill pages outside of my already packed planner, saying goodbye, and answering the question... “What are you doing when you graduate”?
It is a very good and valid question, one that has filled hours of talk for Justin & I (and many a journal pages for me). Sadly, Justin did not receive the internship at Central that we were both hoping for. While it is sad to let go of a dream, we know that doors only close to point us to other open ones. Right now however, God has us in the fog. We know that he is opening doors, He is just not showing us where yet. I love a good plan, so this period of uncertainty is sure to stretch my trust in God.
What door is opening next for us?
We know a few things for sure:
- we both have jobs to pay the bills & a home in Holland to move into. Writing this out makes me realize how much I have to be thankful for and how truly blessed we are to be taken care of by friends, family, and God!
- I will be teaching English to Refugees at Bethany Christian Services this summer :)
- We both crave to be involved in full-time ministry.
- I love children, languages & the Bible.
- Justin loves the Bible, discipleship, and community.
So what are we doing after the summer when we finish our last online courses & get our diplomas?? Hopefully something that combines our need for school debt to be paid off and our love for ministry. We have huge dreams- crazy dreams really.
We dream of running orphanages in Africa. We dream of starting a family young & adopting children from all over the world. We dream of studying the Bible, our passion, and getting our Masters degrees at Jerusalem University College. Justin dreams of forming a community of believers passionate about God’s word & discipleship. I dream of learning languages like Arabic & Chinese.
Pray Requests:
- that our dreams will stay God-sized & God-sent
- easy transition in our move & graduation process
- that we would find ministry positions in Holland
Here are a few pictures of our first 'home' together. I will miss it for sentimental reasons, but good riddance to the coin operated laundry and small counter space! I snapped a few pictures before boxes exploded and packing started. :)
Leah & Justin Lechner
