So why Kentucky? The final chapter

So I got into southern in early March....it was a time of celebration in my life and new beginnings this is also the time that I started talking to people at Bethel who were asking me to come back this summer (which I did...God is so good)

So I got into Southern...now what. Well my friends and I celebrated and my family was supportive, my dad told my mom that he knew in his heart God was calling me to Kentucky (I found this out like 3 days before I got accepted, which is huge for my dad). The few weeks up to finding out I went from having peace to freaking out to doubting to thinking I shouldn't go, that I wasn't called than freaking out because I didn't have 3 back up plans like I usually do. The weeks and months after getting accepted to now have been good, hard, but good. A lot has gone on in my life and God defiantly has a purpose in it all. Relationships were ending new ones were beginning, new people and Friends were coming into my life and it was all very overwhelming. I visited Southern for preview conference in April which is for people who were thinking about applying, well I already had and had gotten in. But man does God know me, he knows me so well. I am convinced that if I had done the conference before I applied I wouldn't have applied because I would have been so freaked out, and felt like it was too hard. But sense I had gotten in first I had a peace that God wanted me there and had a plan. The min I stepped on campus I felt like God saying this is it Kellie you are home, you can let everything that has defined your life for the past 5 years go....man can I just say a huge sigh of relief. There is so much that I am ready to let go of but it has been impossible when I live in it every day. The visit was wonderful, I went to chapel, I sat in classes which was amazing I went to public school my whole life so what a Joy I felt when they opened each class in prayer. I met so many wonderful people and so many girls that I know I will be friends with, and who I have stayed in touch with this summer.

Also during the time that I was applying and found out God was speaking to me a lot in my quiet times. I was Reading the Bible in a year and I was getting to the part where God delivered the Israelites from Egypt (there past, and where the were being enslaved), God delivered them and than promised them Canaan, a new life free from bondage a new beginning. God started to speak to me and show me that was what he was doing in my life. VA represented my Egypt specifically NN which don't get me wrong I like it here, I have amazing friends who I will start crying if I think about leaving but for so many reasons it is time for me to leave, it has become something that is enslaving me. And Kentucky represents Canaan for me. God showed me so much through my study on all of this though, and showed me basically how not to be once I got to the promised land. When they got there they complained, they didn't see what was so good about it and the "giants" scared them there were obstacles there that they did not want to overcome they wanted it to be easy. So God made them wonder around for 40 years. It was like God was saying Kellie when you get there it wont be easy, there will be challenges there may be times you want to go back to NN where it's "safe" but not good for you like the Israelites BUT I am with you, I brought you here I have a plan do not think your plan would have been better and trust me. I love that he gave me this as an example. Once they finally got there though they forgot God, and what He did for them. They credited everything to themselves, and then decided they wanted judges and kings to rule them, than they prostituted themselves out to foreign Gods. They made idols in the place of God. But how often do we do the same thing, we make idols in the form of success, people, money, grades, maybe not wood any more, but we do it too. I feel like I was being lovingly warned, that God was saying I have this new life for you, I have freedom for you, I have a plan, I am bringing you out but we have to do this my way, and you need to keep your eyes on me. Man I love when God teaches me, guides me, and when I hear him and understand him.

So this has been my journey to Southern so far. I received most of the scholarships I applied for which was a blessing, I am a little short but God made the way this far and I know he will complete it. I received housing and everything just fell right into place, it becomes more and more obvious that this is not from myself but from God. I could write a book about the money and housing process but I think you are probably tired of long posts and ready for short ones. So all i will say about all of that is God is Good and God is Faithful. His ways may not be our ways, his plans may not be what we have for ourselves, he may not provide in the way we want or think is best, But God is Good and his ways are better than ours, he knows what I need more than I do so I need to trust the way he gets me to where he is taking me.

I have a week left in "Egypt" and than it is off to see what God has for me. Ok I can't think about this any more or I will freak out (did I mention I have never lived out of VA or away from family, it's starting to hit me, so pray :) )