Santa Cruz, California, October 28th, 2014
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
A or B?
I leave tomorrow for Indianapolis and the ACFW conference.
The what?
The American Christian Fiction Writer's annual conference.
I swear, Redheads, it is FAR easier for me to contemplate trekking to Bolivia to join a radio distribution mission team than to face 600-700 people at a conference.
The hardest thing about going to ACFW from the 12th to the 15th ?
Meeting agents?
Meeting editors?
The throngs of complete strangers?
Nope.
The most difficult thing? The most heart wrenching thing?
I cannot join the radio team leaving for Bolivia on September 16th.
Life is full of hard choices, and sometimes God takes away something we love and replaces it with something we love.
And so here I am.
Going towards something He's blessed, and walking away from something He's blessed.
And I didn't have to make the choice, God made it for me, arranging things to so closely overlap that going to Bolivia would be impossible. He closed those doors with a look of love on HIs face.
Then He blew open the doors for me to go to ACFW, I KNOW this.
There will be more teams in the future.
There will also be more conferences.
But for now, I'm not walking up a hill, bringing the Gospel to the Quechua Indians of Bolivia, I'm walking up a hill to bring the Gospel to Native Americans. I'll do my best, and leave no stone un-turned to write something that takes the reader's breath away.
And I'm fairly certain God will get me back to Bolivia. But not next week.
Vaya con Dios, Alex and Company!!
Oh, and I won't be blogging for 2 weeks, see ya on the flip side!!!
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Aw...yes, God is going to bless your trip! And I know that was a heart-wrenching decision that He helped you make. He knows you are willing to go where He wants you--and that's the best way to serve Him AND others. Have a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteAH yes, willingness and a servant's attitude. Not always easy, but always the right choice.
DeleteAnd I'll have fun all right!!
I hadn't realized until know there was an "either-or" choice for you about ACFW. I admit (selfishly) that I am glad you are coming to Indy so that I get some face-to-face time (and hug-time) with you! God will bless you at this conference, I promise! I know -- because I've experienced how he works through this writers conference -- in big and small ways!
ReplyDeleteHi Beth!
DeleteThe dates for the Bolivia were originally set for mid-October. Which would have made for a brutal turn-around, but I could totally have done it.
Then, in the midst of all the prayers for direction and blessing, this past June, our director announced a date change, on account of the rainy season.
So, God closed one door and opened another.
It's still hard, because my friends are behind the other door.
But I'm glad HE knows His plans!!
I love this, Jennifer. So excited to see what God is going to do at this conference!
ReplyDelete