Today, I'm on day three of emailing all of the former Next Step Alumni in my email address book. A daunting task as I realize that I've been with AIM for a little more than 7 years now and have come in contact with so many more people than I could have ever imagined possible! And at the same time, it's humbling to know that God has allowed me the awesome privilege of being able to impact the lives of others from a corner office in a building in the woods. Amazing......God, You amaze me!

Part of the intent of my emailing them is to invite them to be a part of our Next Step Alumni blog (
http://www.nextstepalumni.com/

 
). Most of my contacts have either done Real Life Mission Teams, First Year Missionary, or the original Missionary Intern Teams. It has been a HUGE blessing to see how much the programs have progressed and grown over 7 years. An even bigger blessing for me, though, is the building of relationships with individuals and being able to impact them.

Another part of my email is to invite them to an opportunity to partner in ministry with me through financial and prayer support. To be honest, I've put off approaching all of these wonderful young adults out of fear that none would respond. That, and thoughts of, "Do I really have an open door of favor with them?" to even approach them to ask. I prayed about it and sought counsel from some former Real Lifers that I've kept contact with who confirmed that I should go ahead and present my needs to them.

I started on Tuesday to email starting with those whose names began with "A". I'm in the "J"s this morning. As I see these names that are familiar to me, their faces also come to my mind and it causes me to smile. I wonder how the Lord has been working in each of their lives since their time with AIM and even ask them to respond and let me know.

To my delight and joy, some have responded! They remember me! God, You are good!

I'm humbled by what God has called me to do, how He continues to equip me, to give the wisdom and discernment to make decisions that impact the lives of others. I don't take the responsibility lightly and rely on Him to lead. I'm blessed to know that those He chooses to send, He uses. To know that He further impacts not just my life, but theirs, the people in the countries they go to minister in, and then their world around them when they return home, leaves me in wonder of the immensity of His plans for us.

When I hear back that God is continuing to lead and guide them, to direct their lives, I am filled with joy that He allowed me to be a part of their life. It excites me that they are continuing to allow Him to use them, wherever He leads them!

Moreover, I'm blown away at His capacity to love me, to care for every aspect of my life. My faith is stretched to trust Him to provide, to reveal His plans for me. And yet as I allow myself to be stretched and made more like Him, I am amazed at how immense He is. Trying to grasp, take in, even comprehend all of Him is so beyond me. And yet, He is patiently revealing to me more and more of Himself, so that I can take Him in a bit at a time and be changed.

Today, He says, "Trust Me, child. Trust Me to provide. Be faithful in the things I set before you and I will meet you every time at your point of need. I will not leave you or forsake you but will lift you up and keep you."

My response to Him is this: "Thank You, Father, from the depths of my heart. Thank You! May You be glorified in ALL things at ALL times! May my life reflect You to the world around me and may they be drawn to You!"