Two years ago, I spent June 12 mostly crying alone in the prayer room, but this year, I enjoyed a day in Chicago with some dear friends and we began discussing my return to India. Two years ago, my birthday was clouded with sorrow and loss feeling like I’d been disowned and discarded by those I love and was close to, but this year, my birthday will be spent with some incredible ladies that have become close friends and sisters through my time in Kansas City! On this day two years, ago, my dreams and plans for the future seemed to have slipped through my fingers and I had no clarity looking forward! But today, the Lord has provided funds for me to pay off my debts and I am taking steps to begin living out my dream of serving the Lord in missions!!! Two years ago today, it seemed my life as I knew it was shattered! But today, I feel my life is beginning anew with focus and purpose!!!
After withdrawing from school in January, I was able to spend 2 weeks with my family at home before starting work at a hospital in the Kansas City area. I was able to get time off for a quick trip home to surprise my mom for Mother's Day which was a huge success! I returned home again for a few weeks in the summer to celebrate some family birthdays including my nephew's 2nd on the 4th of July which was a blast!!! Time at home is always so good but always goes by way too fast!!!!! I am enjoying my time back in Texas to celebrate Christmas with my family! 
In March, I made the move to Missouri official by changing my address, getting new tags on the car and a new driver's license. I also started the process of joining the International House of Prayer (IHOP-KC) as part-time staff. For several months, I enjoyed serving with Exodus Cry (www.exoduscry.com - a prayer movement to end human slavery) and Hannah's Dream Adoptions (a wonderful agency that closed in August). I kept a busy schedule which was a bit of an escape from the wrestling in my heart over why I was in Kansas City when I wasn't continuing as a student. In time, as I kept sensing that this is to be a time of preparation and training, I finally realized that receiving training does not necessitate being a "student". I decided to start auditing classes at IHOPU and switched from part-time to prayer room staff at IHOP-KC in August. Over the summer, I had the opportunity to take some voice lessons and hope to
resume music lessons in January, planning to take both voice and piano. It was really good to be back
in the classroom this fall and I hope to take a couple more classes in the spring! I was able to take "Life of
David", "Paul and His Epistles", "Song of Songs" and
a class on the Book of Isaiah which were all SO good. I
also volunteered to transcribe some of the class sessions for a
leader at IHOPU which gives me access to additional teachings that I am
enjoying. I'm trying to absorb as much as I can of the Word through personal
study, classes and time in the prayer room. 
I have enjoyed returning to work at a hospital and picked up a lot of extra shifts whenever I could as I hoped for a full-time position to open up. After waiting several months, I finally decided to find another part-time position for an increase in income. I started working at a Once Upon A Child store (resales gently used kids clothes and stuff) nearby when it opened in October which was a pretty fun job with some really great people! One week after starting, I was offered a full-time position at the hospital so I gave my notice at the store but didn't want to leave them hanging so agreed to stay on for a while working weekends to help out. I began to transition to working 1 full-time job being able to enjoy weekends off just before heading home for 3 weeks. It is amazing to me how fast this year has flown by, but I look forward to what lies ahead in the New Year!!!
