Well a lot can happen in a few short days when you aren't too scared to take a leap! I've been talking a lot about not being sure what my next step is, and have been patiently seeking for the past 8 months. Now I have a small step to take, although it's going to be a wee journey.
A week ago I met with the person who has been giving me some great advice about how to go about making my next step. I've been looking into grad schools, but haven't been really successful so far in finding what I feel is the right fit. He recommended looking into a Christian organisation called ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organisation). ECHO's vision is "to bring glory to God and a blessing to mankind by using science and technology to help the poor." ...check out their website if you want more information: http://www.echonet.org/
About this time of year ECHO hosts a conference where many people meet together to discuss Agricultural Education from a missions standpoint....exactly what I feel like God has put on my heart. So I contacted the organisation and am going to do a self study before and after attending the conference. I've booked flights and registered for the conference and will be leaving Prince George to fly to Fort Myers, Florida on December 1. Because school gets out early this year, I'll be flying back to the Okanagan on December 14 instead of coming back to Prince George.
I'm really excited about this amazing opportunity. I'm pretty sure that I'll be able to pay my fees if I get enough work before I go (although it's going to be a bit tight with Christmas right around the corner).
So I'm taking this step solo and praying for some great learning, working, and networking and maybe even some revelation about what comes next. A lot of the topics being covered at the conference are things we talked about or did during Outreach and one of the evening sessions is even about Farmer Field Schools in Cambodia so I can't wait to see what God has to show me.
Although I'm excited, steps like this don't come without a little bit of fear and trepidation, so I'll ask once again for your support in prayer: for safe travels and good connections, for wisdom in what I choose to research and energy to do so, for great new relationships and connections--especially with my staff coordinator and the people I'll be sharing living quarters with (at the ECHO farm/campus and a hotel room during the conference), for opportunities to serve the ECHO community (working on the farm or around the site), and of course the finances to make it all happen.
On another note, I heard some tragic news about Cambodia this evening: during celebrations for the end of the rainy season there was a mass stampede over a bridge to get off an island after some boat races and at least 347 people were killed with at least another 349 injured in the capital city of Phnom Penh. Keep this country in your prayers!
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