I'm resurrecting my blog as I look for creative methods of communicating with friends & family as I prepare for the next chapter in my personal life story.
Let me start off by not assuming you know of recent changes I am about to make. After many months of prayer, I made a decision to attend Youth With A Missions' Discipleship Training School (here on out referred to as YWAM - DTS) in Puerto Madryn, Argentina. No, that was not an auto-correct or type-o. I am headed to the Patagonia Desert in mid-September!
Now, you might be asking how that came about...funny story. No, not really funny. As I made the decision to attend a YWAM school, I started looking at some local schools (one just 40 min from here). I wasn't feeling it. I started thinking a little bit more about and asked God where I should go. In a matter of a week, I had 2 dreams: 1 of Andes Mountains Kids (they have a distinct facial type) and another of coffee fields. So, I started looking for schools in the Ecuador region. I couldn't find one and widened the search and found 2 schools with English websites - 1 in Columbia and 1 in Argentina.
I sent out a general interest email with my story and asked if I would be a "fit" in their schools. Then, I started searching their websites. When I opened the website for Puerto Madryn (they have since updated their page), there were 4 photos...all of them were of a desert. I opened the last photo and it was a dark desert shot with a street light. That's it! I started crying and knew that's where I was supposed to go. (I included the picture for you). Moving isn't it? Yeah.
Well, after many weeks/months of going back and forth with the school through emails, I have been accepted to the school and will be flying to the region sometime in mid-September and staying for a minimum of 5 months.
Now the fun begins! My temp job ends next week. In 3 weeks, I'm leading a team of 12 from my church on a 1-week missions trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Then the preparation begins. I have to sell my car, get my finances in order, sell a lot of stuff, pack for 5 mos in 1 backpack, EGAD - WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?! Well, I'm thinking there is something inside of me that
compels me beyond what is logical in our human thinking...something that's great than me, drawing me.
The first step of the journey has begun. The ball has been set in motion and I'm moving forward. Yes, at 40 yrs old, this sometimes feels like one of the craziest decisions I have EVER made (and maybe I've made a few crazy decisions in my life) but I also feel like its the RIGHT thing.
I taught my last Jr High Class at church and felt such a release when I walked out for the last time. I'm in my last few days of the temp job and it feels like that last day of school before Summer. Every step of the way seems to be confirming this decision.
I am looking for your support! I need people who are going to be praying with and for me through this process. The next three months are going to be a whirlwind of preparation. I'm looking to surround myself with people who will pray for me in the preparations and throughout the time I'm in the school and mission field. I don't know where the Lord is taking me through it all, but I do know He is up to something and this is a necessary step in the process!
I will continue to post updates on this blog and use it as a tool to communicate when I am in Argentina. I hope you enjoy what you are reading, and maybe, feel compelled to follow the path that God is unfolding before
you!
If you'd like to communicate with me regarding this trip, you can email me at
mariann_lucas@hotmail.com. When I move to Argentina, I will no longer be accessible by cell. I will be setting-up a skype account in the coming weeks and would love the opportunity to utilize this tool.
