How it all began

I know a lot of people who know me has heard how my adventure started, but I am a story teller and I like to start my stories at the beginning. So here it goes. I just graduated from College with a BS in Elementary Education at age 46 and this summer I prayed for a job. I kept an open mind and listened for God's direction and all I heard was to enjoy the summer and do art with your friends. So I did but I was a little anxious about my new job that I know God promised me. It' s hard to be still and wait when you want to know where you are going and what you will be doing. But I waited.


My small group bible study prayed for me and I surrendered everything to God. He has provided for me for the almost four years of jobless schooling. He will provided for me now. I put countless applications in for teaching jobs all over the world. Yes all over the world. Finally in August of this year I got a call from a small school in North Dakota. To tell you the truth I don't remember applying for it. This small school is on an Indian Reservation. This peeked my interest since I love culture and Native Americans have a rich culture. They asked if I could come for an interview and I told them I was in Oregon with no means to travel for an interview. So they set up a phone interview on Tuesday Aug. 11. They called and talked to me then said they would let me know. They called that afternoon and offered me a job. I said I needed income to move and they said they could give me free rent for a year if I lived next to the school. And they could give me a small signing bonus. I called my sister and she and her husband prayed and then opened thier check book and loaned me the money to move. (Rats my last excuse was wiped away. I guess I had to trust God and surrender where He would lead).



I called and accepted the job and they said I needed to be there by Monday 8/17. I packed on Wednesday and left my birth and home state Oregon for North Dakota with all my belongings on Friday morning 8/14. I had a going away party where my family reassured me they all had a peace that I was doing the right thing. I was excited lets face it I did not have time to feel fear or much of anything but stress.



My youngest son and I drove a U-haul and towed my car to North Dakota and I dropped my son off at a train station to return to Oregon. Both my sons are moving to Texas. So I on the 17th I met my boss and toured the school and while I was in orientation a group of men unloaded my truck. I met another new teacher who was from Washington and we became instant friends. God provided all I needed and blessed me every step of the way.


I asked for a 10' Uhaul and got a 14' truck for the same price. I asked for a tow dolly and was given a full trailer for the same price plus two free days and extra mileage for free. One motel gave away our room because we were late so they gave us a suit for the price of a double. My sister prayed for me to have connections and saw a picture of an older more experienced teacher befreinding me and she is my neighbor and teacher mentor.



I had all these blessings. It says in the bible God will ask you to do things you cannot do on your own and give you the things you need to do them. He did this for me and I was great. Until I dropped off the truck and trailor and went back to my free two bedroom, spacious, newly remodled home. That is when I panicked. Oh I broke down and cried when I made it into town and had to drop my son off at the station. But this was much worse. All I could think of was that I made a big mistake and I needed to come home. I have no cell service for 35 miles from my home. I know because I drove around that first night trying to find some. I gave up and slept in a bedroom that night.



My thought that night was I will just bring a chair and my tv and laptop into this one bedroom and hide there for the rest of the year becuase I could not open a box. Everytime I tried I could not breathe. When I woke the next day I felt worse. I told my boss I could not stay that I felt I made a big mistake. He understood and I left to find service and call home. My family and friends were right there and they supported me and calmed me down. I called my boss to say I was staying even though I was shaking in my shoes and got his home by accident. His wife invited me over and showed me her home, fed me and let me sit on her coiuch until I was able to go back to school.



My sisters dropped everything and drove to North Dakota and they spent three day unpackimg me and praying over me and praying over the desks in my room. They even hung curtains and pictures making my house a cozy home. My sisters are awesome and they came along side me and helped me to gain my strength pointed me to the one who has always provied for me. God is great. They left this morning 8/25. I miss them but I am okay.