In March 2008 one of our Baltimore churches had a mission team come that was a partnership they had established on their own. When the team arrived in Baltimore they accomplished the work that was planned more quickly than originally thought. The team leader contacted their state convention who in turn was able to contact the BBA office and therefore reach Embrace Baltimore. We were able to quickly formulate some extra projects with other churches and the mission team had a great time. It was neat to see that the way our convention is set up it easily allows us to cooperate together to make difficult situations better.
Because we were able to meet this team (University of Southern Mississippi) and connect with them, they contacted our office in September 2008 to say they wanted to come back and serve in Baltimore. I was shocked but thrilled! We facilitated a partnership between USM and New Hope Curtis Bay for a March sport camp. Kris, team leader, and his wife Presley came to Baltimore in January 2009 for a pre-trip and Brandy and I went to the service at NHCC to meet with them. During that evening we were all chatting and Presley asked the question what was next for me after Embrace. I told her that my husband and I felt called to be house parents and were beginning to explore that possibility. She said that she knew of someone who was starting a children’s home and asked if she could pass along our information to him. I agreed thinking it wouldn’t go any further than that. Turns out I was wrong- way wrong.
In April 2009 Michael Garrett from Homes of Hope for Children in Mississippi sent me an email introducing himself and asking if we would be interested in hearing about his ministry. Well, things got a bit crazy during that time at work, as well as we had already started to pursue things with the Florida Baptist Children’s Home so I didn’t call him back until the next month. When I did call him Michael and I talked for nearly an hour about children’s homes. I remember him taking the time to talk with me not just about Homes of Hope but also about things my husband and I should be looking for regardless of where we go.
We continued to talk with both the Florida Baptist Children’s Home and Homes of Hope as well as pray that God would make it clear where we were to go. We visited Mississippi in August and really enjoyed our time there. Hearing Michael’s vision for the organization and the direction it was going made us want to be a part of things but we wanted to be sure this is where God wanted us. We continued to pray for it to be clear. Through several events the FL Baptist Children’s Home lost its appeal and eventually that door was closed. We knew God had answered our prayers and made it clear that Mississippi was where He wanted us.
I will finish with Embrace on October 31st and on November 3rd we will begin our road trip to move to Hattiesburg, MS. My time with Embrace has taught me so much and was such a valuable experience. Looking back I can see skills and experiences I will be able to use in this new role. But it also makes me smile to think that God took a Florida girl to Baltimore so she would move to Mississippi.
