The Big Move, Part 2

We have been in Las Cruces for 2 weeks and most of the boxes have been emptied! There are still a few things that I must find a place for, and pictures to hang on the walls, but gradually our little apartment is looking more like home. Wow! It is really hard moving from a big house to a 2 bedroom apartment!! To me, Las Cruces is a huge city (90,000), but we are gradually learning our way around. Remember, I grew up in the country----the tiny hamlet of Browningsville, MD. I'm not sure it is even on all the maps! But, Paul is good with directions, so he is helping me learn the street names, and having me drive to various places to learn my way (he is in the car too, of course!). I now know how to get to the grocery store (Lowes Fiesta Foods), K-Mart, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, our storage rental and Savers (a wonderful thrift store). Of course, all these places are on the same street, so that helps! I still need help locating Walmart, Walgreens and Hobby Lobby! Ha! I haven’t ventured out on my own yet. Maybe this week! Rest assured, I will take our Garmin with me! I also know how to get to our 2 churches! Yes, I said churches! Joe is active at University Church of Christ, and wants us to worship with him, so we have been there the last two Sundays. One of their services is at 11:20, so we will go to that most of the time. They have an earlier service where they only have accapella music, but THIS later service has a praise group, WITH INSTRUMENTS! It is a very uplifting service, with a wide range of age groups. During the school year, many college students attend this later service, Their young pastor is a very gifted spiritual leader and the sermon we heard our first Sunday here was very evangelical and challenging! They emphasize outreach a lot! We will be well fed spiritually! BUT, since we ARE United Methodists and since Paul has a conference obligation to maintain contact with a Methodist church during our leave of absence, we will also attend St Paul’s United Methodist church! It is just a mile from our apartment! We went to their earlier 9:30 “New Day Praise” Service this past Sunday morning. It also was very uplifting and worshipful. Their pastor is James Large, and they just received a “new associate” pastor – Tammy Valentine. Paul knows James, from our connections with our NM Annual Conference. They have FOUR (count ‘em!) worship services! 8:15 (traditional/gospel), 9:30 (informal with praise music) and 2 at 10:45 (one contemporary and one traditional). We will go to the 10:45 service sometimes too, because Ben said he wanted to go with us sometimes. When we go to the late Methodist service we may go to the early Church of Christ worship. How’s that for being eccumentical?!

Paul continues to look for employment. But, we are not worried. We know that the Lord will take care of us and He is going to open the right doors and opportunities of service for us. We are trusting Him! He has applied to many places he would enjoy working----it will be interesting to see where the Lord leads us to minister and work! Even though he won’t be the pastor of a church we know that EVERYONE is always a MINISTER of the Gospel wherever we work! As for me, I am enjoying setting up our apartment, and just being at home. I have a couple of possibilities that may open up for me, outside the home, to help with our income. But if not, it’s okay. I have applied at the public schools as a teacher aide, but with budget cuts, that probably will not happen. One option I am considering is to give piano lessons here at the apt. Paul purchased for me a wonderful Yamaha Portable Grand piano, full-sized keyboard, with a beautiful tone! It’s perfect for an apt! Even if I don't give lessons, I will love playing it! I already do love playing it! Also, in the paper the other day, AND at worship on Sunday at St Paul’s, I heard of another job possibility! St Paul’s Methodist has a Child Development Center/Preschool, and they need a preschool teacher for the next school year! That’s right down my alley, since I taught preschool for 6 years at Lil Dogs! I met the director on Sunday, and am sending her my resume this week! Pray with us that the Lord will show us the paths he wants us to take that will enable us to be the best witnesses for Him!

It is wonderful having all three kids here in town! Emilee is back home with us for her last year at NMSU. She is busy this summer, working 2 jobs – at Wet Seal, a clothing store at the mall, and as a waitress at the Lemon Grass Restaurant (Thai food). It's good to have her here, though she is gone much of the day! The Lemon Grass Restaurant is a great place to eat. The food is different from other Asian foods we've had, but is good! They use peanut oil, peanuts, ginger, and curry in their cooking! I love their iced Lemon Grass Tea! Joe has completed (and hopefully passed) his LAST final exam of his college career and is now completing his internship at Fitness One, as a personal trainer (and getting paid too!) He loves it! It looks like he will graduate in December, and Emilee will graduate in May! Ben will enroll at the Dona Ana Jr College Campus in the fall! It is connected to NMSU. He is enjoying his work at the Doggie Dude Ranch! It is a boarding kennel and DAYCARE for dogs! Can you believe it?!?! People who go on vacation board their dogs there, but ALSO, some people just bring their dogs there for the day while they are at work! I never heard of that before. Ben says they want their dogs to socialize! They bathe them, feed them and take them out to play in the big yard. I guess they have nap time too!? Just maybe he and I both will have jobs at a daycare! He likes this job---so that’s the important thing.

We had our first dinner guest Saturday night (Not counting our kids – who AREN’T guests)! A Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (which is in Artesia) student that attended our Artesia church last winter is now living in Las Cruces and working with the Border Patrol in Deming! We had him over for veggie pizza last night (since he is vegetarian!) fruit salad and icecream! We hope to have more times of fellowship with him in the future. If you've got any veggie recipes, send em on! ha

So, our life is beginning to take shape here in Las Cruces, the city of the 3 crosses. Come back soon for more on what the Lord is doing in our lives, and what he is teaching us!

The Big Move to Las Cruces, NM - Part 1

It's been a long time since I posted anything on my "blog" so I will try to fill everyone in! Actually I'm lazy and I don't want to write the same thing more than once in a snail mail letter or email and so I am directing all my Facebook friends and email buddies here to "read all about it"!

Most of you know that we moved from Artesia, NM recently --- Tuesday, June 21 to be exact! There have been some big changes in our lives----ones that have required a giant step (no, LEAP!) of faith! I am guessing that the Lord knew I needed to grow in that area!!! Hopefully I can poetically ponder my past as a pastor's wife and tell you what the Lord is teaching me (or a least TRYING to teach me! But I don't think I am being a very good student these days! Just ask my x-preacher husband, Paul!)

What's this? "X-Preacher" , "Past preacher's wife"? NO we haven't "GIVEN UP THE MINISTRY" or backslidden or walked out on God or anything! Let me back up a bit! In the United Methodist church, about this time of year (late May and June) it is "appointment time". In the spring, the bishop and the district superintendants meet and pray about where to deploy their pastors. Taking into consideration the desires/needs of the congregations, the desires/needs of the pastor, and the needs of the churches/conference, they have the huge, daunting task of trying to match pastors with churches, and churches with pastors. They take into account the pastor's gifts and strengths and the churches' mission field and needs, and they match the two together. Hence, in 2001 we moved to Artesia---a match literally made in heaven! We have been in Artesia 9 wonderful years, and we thank God for what he has done in our lives and in the lives of our congregation. But just as surely as God calls you to a location or a job, God also can call you out of it. Let me explain: For a little over a year, we have sensed that it was time for us to move on from here. You've heard of "wearing out your welcome"? Well, I'm not sure we did that, but we wanted to leave before we did! Ha! We just sensed that God was telling us to step aside and let someone else plant some new seeds, and also water the seeds that we had planted under God's direction. So. . . we initiated the request for a change. Paul requested a leave of absence, and then early retirement from the United Methodist church , to be effective next May of 2011 (30 years). It wouldn't be fair to take another church for a year or so and then request early retirement. Churches need more continuity in leadership than that. So, since Paul has wanted to try his hand at something different, we decided to request a leave of absence for a year, prior to retirement. Paul is a hard-working preacher! He puts his heart, soul, and mind into studying the Scriptures in order to preach a Biblical sermon weekly. He works hard to guide the members of our congregation in a direction that the Lord is leading. In Artesia, he was very active in the community and attended many of the school and community events, besides visiting folk in their homes. He also wrote a devotional article weekly for the Artesia Daily Press. Now, it is time for break. His cup need refilling. He wants and needs a break from this line of ministry and wants to do something different. So, we decided to leave the pastoral ministry and move to Las Cruces, NM! A little over 28 years ago, the late Rev Maurice Stevens, founder of Missionary World Service and Evangelism (now Go International) told us something very profound.. As we were eating a meal with he and his wife, Beverly, one evening, he said to us, "Never become so content in a job that if the Lord tells you to leave it/move on, you won't be able to do it!" He told us that in reference to his life and call, but it has remained with me to this day, and I think it may have been a word from God for us, even now. It was and is a huge step of faith for us to leave the pastoral ministry, as we still aren't really clear on what the Lord would have us do here. But one thing we are certain of: God has told us to move on. And since He has told us to move on, we believe he will guide us on to the next thing. Now, lest you think that I am a person of great faith and strength, let me be quick to tell you that those words are easier said (or written) than done! My head knows all that for sure, but my heart is a bit further behind. This move has been a real struggle for me. I have been so content, fulfilled, loved, secure and happy in my role as pastor's wife. I have a definate call to full time Christian service. God let me know that back in my teenaged years. BUT, all Christians are to be in "full-time Christian service"! There is no place where we are exempt from serving the Lord. Now I just need to find the "next place" where God wants me to serve Him! And that will be the only place where I will find true contentment, fulfillment, love, security and happiness---in the center of His will!

One thing we DO know for certain, now that we've moved to Las Cruces, is that our children need us here at this time of their lives. Joe is finishing up his college career and will graduate from NM State University in December. Emilee is approaching her Senior year at NMSU, and Ben will be enrolling in College in the fall!!!! This is a rare opportunity that we have to be a source of encouragement to our 3 grown young adult children! Who knows when we will ever again all be located in the same town. We must not take that for granted! We thank the Lord for that blessing. AND that each one actually seems to like the idea that we are here!

So, there you have it. We have moved. Read on for some other details of our first days here. And maybe even some more lessons learned (or working on!)
Thus ends this segment of my "ponderings". . . And by the way. . . I'm still a pastor's wife. . . I'm the bride of the Greatest Pastor and Teacher of all time. . . Jesus Christ!