Faith Started Walking...

Yes, that's my blog title.  Basically from scripture.  I've been doing a study on faith this week, and part of it has me looking at Hebrews 11, otherwise known as the "faith chapter".  I've been praying for direction more and more, and this scripture went 3D on me--It's about Abraham, who was told to leave his country and go to the land God would show him.  It says, "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance.  And he went out, not knowing where he was going."  11:8  Not knowing where he was going!

It is encouraging to me that one of the biggest patriarchs of the faith just loaded up his donkey and took off walking with his family across the desert trusting God for direction.  In the past week I've looked at five different countries to possibly teach in, including Morocco, Hungary, Czech Republic, Turkey, and Croatia.  I you-tube studied them, watching travel show clips to get a feel for the land and the people to help me narrow it down.  On one end, Morocco was crowded and stinky and a little scary, and on the other the only thing to do in Dubrovnik, Croatia was to walk the city wall...again and again.  Feeling I would go stir crazy at either end of the spectrum, I looked at the other three.  Budapest, Hungary, although cool, looked and felt too big.  Although I have immediate family in Istanbul, Turkey, I've pretty well concluded that an Arabic culture is just not me. 

So that leaves Prague, Czech Republic.  It's the oldest European city with all its medieval architecture still standing, as it wasn't bombed in any of the wars.  It's also pretty modern, with a capitalist economy no longer under communism, which means they are now free to consume Starbucks with impunity.  It's a compact city that has a free metro system and reportedly the best beer in the world.  It's also got a huge classical music scene as well as other types of music.  Oh, and there is hiking nearby.  Other than that, I know nothing about Prague except that it's purportedly cool and beautiful. 

So I'm starting to walk.  I was connected to a contact in Prague over the weekend, from whom I've asked for info as they are connected to the teaching scene.  I don't know what, if anything, will come of it, but at least for now I'm narrowed down to a city and country. 

On the home front, I'm still temping.  I've spent the past two weeks recovering via physical therapy and medicine from a back sprain I incurred my last day at my last temp job.  Praise God for workman's comp.  I need something this week in order to support myself past the first week in June.  Oddly enough, this time around, I don't feel desperate or panicked.  God is good.  I know it's going to be ok.  He's provided for me every time, and will provide for me again.  True, you've caught me on a good day when my faith feels strong, but hey--I'm going to trust that I'm movin' on up in the faith. 

Right now I'm "warmed and fed" from the love of my family this weekend.  My little nephew is so talkative and cute and gets so excited to see me he squeals, "Hi, Auntie Jessica!" every time there's been an absence of more than ten minutes.  We had fun this morning--He was watching me put on makeup and started emptying the contents of my makeup bag one by one.  He grabbed my concealer, which had the cap off, and just as I was stuttering, "No-no-no-no-noo!", he made a big squirt and got it all over himself, his shirt, a toothpaste bottle, and the counter.  Oh well, what are you gonna do?  I also went shopping with my mom and sister-in-law, saw all the Texas relatives, and generally had a good, loving time. 

Unlike Abraham, I don't feel like I'm being told to go anywhere.  I feel more like I'm being asked where I want to be.  So, it's a little hard for me to classify my research and getting ESL certified as obedience, but maybe just walking is the obedience I need.  I'm going to step and see what's up the next switchback, however many turns it takes me.