Where the Dirt Path Ends and the Pavement begians.

Life here at JP Mansion is winding down. The countdown is on, 4 days until I move into a new chapter of my life.
For those of you who don't know I will be attending Kasem Bundit University (KBU) for a year, where I will continue my study of the Thai language.
I just want you all to know that this is completely and totally a God thing. I have a great peace about and excitement about this next chapter. Here is the story.

About two months ago I started praying about what God wanted me to do this next year. I had so many questions. How would I get Work? Visa? Place to live? Spiritual Support? Basically, What the______should I do??!!! I did not feel like I was hearing God, or at least what I wanted to hear. And nothing was working out.  I did not know what to do. Finally, It was time to meet with the team leaders.
Now that I look back, I smile, and shake my head. At the meeting the first question was simply, "Dani, what are you thinking?" I shared that I wanted to stay at JP Mansion. The thing is, as soon as I said that I knew my leaders where not thinking that, and that God wanted me to do something else too. You see, during that time of praying and "not hearing God", he had been telling me to go to KBU. But I did not want to go. I like where I live and my friends are here. So I told myself I really did not hear God, or that was just me, not Him.
Well as you can imagine my leaders really felt like going to KBU would be a really good fit for me. My heart surrendered. Ok, but I won't go unless there is a natural reason for me to be there and I can find away to get a visa.
I figure God just chuckled as he finished putting the icing on the cake, and began the sprinkles. I went to visit the university and they were so excited for me to come! I started feeling good about going, and everyone on the team felt really good about me going too!
But the cherry on top is my roommate! I had not even been accepted when Nixon (a fellow team mate, who is a student there.) said that he had a friend who was looking for a roommate and he thought we would be good for each other. I was not too sure about it, as a matter of fact, for some reason I did not want to be her roommate. But I said sure. If it is meant to be, God would work it out. He worked it out. :)

She is an awesome girl. This is the best situation, really. She wants to practice English and I want to practice Thai. We are going to both help each other. She has also mentioned that if we have time she hopes we can study the bible! We met last Sunday. It was a great day! We talked (mostly thai) about all sorts of things, many of them deep.  I am looking forward to being able to pour in to her life!

I really feel like God has brought so many things together, university, roommate, and money. While I know God is totally leading me in this, there have been frustrating things. Like: communication about what I need to bring in or things I need to do. They even almost lost my application. For my Visa I have to leave the county for 2 days, by myself.     
     
While those things are frustrating, I can only keep thanking God. I feel like I am stepping into a field ready to hear and see the presence of God! I might be the first girl to really dwell with God there!

Fallowing God is always the best thing, it is not always easy. I will be leaving behind friends and family. It is an 1-2 hour trip, but I can come back and visit, hopefully on a regular basis. I will miss chasing Nong Dow down the hall, eating P'Great's yummy food, and meeting Lung Sarie for breakfast.
Last night Lung Sarie told me "It is good if you can go out there to fallow God, and get a visa. But my heart still hurts. Everyone is leaving. Maybe it would better if I never knew you, Rhonda, or Tom."  (All the workers are leaving this area and retuning to America, except me. Lung Sarie has been helping all of us here for the past 6 or 7 years, and now we are leaving.)

I know the life of a worker is never easy, always saying good byes. But I realize it is not easy for those left behind. Thank you all for being willing to send me and support me. Because of you and my friends here I am ready for this next chapter God has prepared for me. Thank you for being willing to be used by God in my life!