It's amazing. I know I shouldn't get too excited or too settled, but it's the first time in a year I've actually had my own room in a place where I'm going to be semi-permanently living. And this room is filled with all my stuff! Yes, all my stuff. Except for a few boxes at my parents filled with historical belongings, everything I own is here... in the same country and in the same place as me.

Wow. It's been a long time.

I'm living with a friend from college and her husband in Salem, Oregon. They offered me a room in their very nice house a couple months ago. Back then I had no idea where God was going to lead me so I said Thank you very much and I'll get back to you. It's pretty cool to discover that God has taken care of something before it even became a need.

I'm going to be based in Salem for the next two years or so, working on developing a global anti-human trafficking program thingy within YWAM. As far as I know, I'm going to be researching, traveling and mobilizing the Church. How exactly? Good question. I don't really know. What I do know is that God has led me to this spot and provided everything I've needed along the way. I'm going to be working under the leadership of a terrific couple who have been with YWAM for years. They're here in Salem... which is why I'm now here in Salem. The next couple of months are my strategy months, and I'm going to spend my time researching, praying, networking, volunteering, thinking and more praying. I'm convinced that God's going to open up a lot of cool things.

I'll keep you posted... but for now I'm just excited to see semblances of "real life" taking shape around me. I have a job (well sort of... I'm not paid or anything, being a missionary), a place to live with all my stuff (added bonus), friends in the area, a church. It's a blessing. And if you've been experiencing these things all along, take it from me that it's a gift