The Next Step

Yesterday was my last day in Winston-Salem, NC. After 5 years of living, breathing, eating, and sleeping that town it's time to take the next step. Leaving is not easy. So much of who I am today is because of what was accomplished in Winston. It's where I was saved, where The Core was formed, where I traveled the globe, where I volunteered, where I worked, where Carrie Underwood became a household name, where I lived for 13 months with God's gift of love to me in human form (my roommate), and where I poured out my heart and soul into my church (Uncompromising Word Fellowship Church).

After I graduated in May of 2009 from Wake Forest University, I served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member with One Economy Corporation. OE is a global non-profit whose mission is to empower people through technology. OE provides affordable Internet access, purposeful online content, and a free youth technology program called Digital Connectors. I learned a lot and grew professionally from the experience. Some of my greatest moments included driving our company branded cargo van up and down the East Coast, spending a week in Bertie County [NC], and successfully writing a grant for $25,000 to fund a Digital Connectors program in Winston-Salem. 

So what's next?

After several months of  personal growth and prayer for guidance God led me in the direction of the Johnson Intern Program (JIP). The irony here is that last year I was offered positions with both One Economy and JIP. After choosing the former I didn't think I would find myself re-applying to the latter. However, God works in mysterious ways and all I can think is that "timing is everything".

This scripture has been placed in my heart and portrays more accurately in words than I ever could, what my assignment is for this year. As my friends and family I ask that you pray this scripture for me that I should tuck it deep within my heart and when I feel lost and unsure about my path, that as my accountability partners you will turn me back to this Word.

Isaiah 55

Invitation to the Thirsty

 ¹ "Come, all you who are thirsty,
       come to the waters;
       and you who have no money,
       come, buy and eat!
       Come, buy wine and milk
       without money and without cost.

 ² Why spend money on what is not bread,
       and your labor on what does not satisfy?
       Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
       and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

 ³ Give ear and come to me;
       hear me, that your soul may live.
       I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
       my faithful love promised to David.

 ⁴ See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
       a leader and commander of the peoples.

 ⁵ Surely you will summon nations you know not,
       and nations that do not know you will hasten to you,
       because of the LORD your God,
       the Holy One of Israel,
       for he has endowed you with splendor."

 ⁶ Seek the LORD while he may be found;
       call on him while he is near.

 ⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way
       and the evil man his thoughts.
       Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,
       and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

 ⁸ "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
       neither are your ways my ways,"
       declares the LORD.

 ⁹ "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
       so are my ways higher than your ways
       and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 ¹⁰ As the rain and the snow
       come down from heaven,
       and do not return to it
       without watering the earth
       and making it bud and flourish,
       so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

 ¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
       It will not return to me empty,
       but will accomplish what I desire
       and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

 ¹² You will go out in joy
       and be led forth in peace;
       the mountains and hills
       will burst into song before you,
       and all the trees of the field
       will clap their hands.

 ¹³ Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,
       and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
       This will be for the LORD's renown,
       for an everlasting sign,
       which will not be destroyed."

This past year has been the BEST year of my life! As a dear friend reminded me a few nights ago instead of thinking of this as the end I should get excited about continuing its greatness. I love my life, I love the people in it, and I love the God who is taking me to places that eyes have not yet seen and ears have not yet heard [about].

In my next posts I will tell you more about JIP and my 7 new roommates...

The best is yet to come,

~Adwoa