Is this really happening?

A smart young man receives a business and finance degree from a university, gets great grades, and personal letters of recommendation from the most respected and well connected professors in the business department. It takes a couple months and some intense interviews, but he lands a great management position with a financial advisory firm. He puts a down payment on a modest house, proposes to the most awesome girl he's ever met, and gets married about a year after graduating. The couple gets involved in their church and helps out with... STOP!!

That's what my life was supposed to look like right? I kinda thought so a couple years ago. A lot has changed since then. A lot has changed since a couple months ago. I got the degree, the grades, and the letters; but a year later, no firm, no house, and no ring.

As it turns out, the things I was praying for in January and February actually came about despite my skepticism. Honestly God has exceeded my expectations and really surprised me. I now have a job description, a budget, nearly 100% support, and a one way plane ticket to South Asia. I'd asked God for a paid position so that I wouldn't have to "bother" people, humble myself, and raise support. He knew I needed lots of humbling, raising support to return to Bangladesh would be the least of my worries.

Immediately after Jesus rose from the dead there were rumors that he was alive. When He appeared to the disciples and others in a locked room to show them He was in fact alive, everything was better right? Their leader and teacher was back and things could go back to normal. No, it says their hearts were full of doubt and fear. No one had ever brought themselves back from the dead. They were doubtful, scared, and some of them might have even been mad at Him. I kinda feel like that. God provided an opportunity for me to return to Bangladesh, I doubted, he provided a little bit, and I doubted some more. Now he has fully provided, I'm returning; and while I'm not mad at God for providing, it is definitely not what I expected, and I'm a little bit nervous about what lies ahead.

I can be slow like Gideon sometimes, but after all He has done to open doors and provide for my return to Bangladesh, even I can see that this is obviously His will for the next 6 months of my life. Despite the doubts and fears, I take comfort and trust Him in this. I am really excited to see what He has for me. My job description says I'll be doing financial support work and efficiency consulting, so it will be great to use my degree in a professional scene. It will be even better to do so around Muslims and Hindus, getting to know them, hearing their stories and sharing with them my story of God's grace and love. I'm not sure what all He has planned, but as I follow Him and obey Him, I know that it will be awesome!

Pray with me as I work through some final details and prepare myself to be in Asia for the next 6 months. WOOO HOOO!!!