Answered Prayers #1, 2, & 3…

Ok, so it’s more like 567,890,354, but I lost track.

I made it to KY! I left MD on Thur., June 19 and got here in Florence, KY (right below Cincinnati, OH) on Friday, June 20.
(Sorry this update has taken so long! Also, I haven’t forgotten to tell you about the stories from New Orleans, I just figured I’d get this update sent first.)

Answered Prayer #1
I had decided to take the trip to KY in two days. The day before I left, I still didn't know where I would stay the first night. I had been praying that God would provide a place for me to stay. Around 9pm on Wednesday night, I got a call from a friend whose mother lived in Washington, PA (the halfway point on my trip). She said I could stay with her mom the following night! Thank You, God!! It was wonderful to stay with someone and not have to stay in a strange hotel (also, more cost effective!) (Thanks Chris and Jean)

Answered Prayer #2
My car made it safely!!!!! If you have been walking this journey with me, you know how old my car is! (and how many people have been praying that God would keep me safe in it!) :) He did! The trip was fun and uneventful! I arrived safely in northern KY on Friday night (after an hour and a half … detour!) :)

I have been staying in Florence, KY with some friends of friends! The couple I am staying with was out of town the first night I was here. They had arranged for me to be able to get into the house and we would meet for the first time on Saturday night. So as I walked into their house the thought accrued to me, “I’m staying in someone’s house, who I do not know, and they are not here. Yep, that about sums up my life right now!” :) I met them on Sat night and we stayed up till the wee hours of the morning talking about our journeys. It was a great time!

I have enjoyed my visit to Northern KY/Cincinnati. However, I thought I was much more west than I am. I looked at a map of the US and said, "I'm still on the East Coast, I have a long way to go!" :)

My friends who I am staying with have been wonderful hosts and have shown me all around. I was able to go to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (with a history teacher as my guide!). It was a moving experience. If you are ever in Cincinnati, you must go! (and get the free audio tour handset - it was Wonderful!) I have been able catch up on some old documentaries for free from the library. I was also able to spend a lot of time working out!!! Yeah! Tomorrow, we are off to visit the Creation Museum somewhere in northern KY.

I have had the chance to meet and talk with three different house church/organic communities. Each one is a little different just like all our families are a little different. It has been a great experience and I look forward to meeting more along my journey. (If you know of any, please let me know, thanks.)

Answered Prayer #3
I lost my sunglasses when I came home from New Orleans. I went two weeks without them and knew I needed to find some kind of replacement before I went on these long drives. They were magnetic, so they were just lenses fitted to my prescription glasses, kinda hard to replace – and expensive. So, the day before I left for the trip, I asked God again to please provide some kind of solution for me. My eyes are sensitive to the sun and it’s hard to drive (and see clearly) without prescription sunglasses. Less than an hour after I prayed, I was walking out of Wal-Mart and thought I would look at their vision center again to see it anything would work and fit into my budget. Immediately, I saw some clip on sun glass lenses that are fitted to different frame sizes. I found one that fit my frames pretty well and they were under $20! Thank You again, Lord! Providing even the “small” things. May I always remember Your provision!

Why do we forget His provision the next time a need comes up. Sometimes we remember for weeks or months and then we forget again. Or a bigger need comes up. We know He can meet the need but we don't see how it will be met so we fret again.

I'm at a place right now where I'm reminding myself of His past provision and trusting Him for future provision. That can be an emotional place. Plans are made and then get changed at the last minute. I wonder "where will I stay" or "am I going in the right direction?" "Should I take a detour, stay where I'm at, continue on through difficulty..." I have found that it is a fine line between making things work (leaning on my own understanding) and trusting in God and waiting on Him to provide, but still taking steps in the direction of faith. If any of you have figured that out and want to share your wisdom, I wouldn't mind. :)

This next week, I was supposed to go from KY to Nashville and then on to Austin, TX were I would stay until I flew to MD for an appointment. Then back to Austin and onto Wichita Falls, TX to see my sister. Because of not being able to stay at certain places at certain times, my "plans" are up in the air. On a human timeline, that's not good when you need to make plane reservations :) However, I know that none of this takes God by surprise. So please pray that I will hear His direction to me and have His wisdom to make decisions and take steps of faith.
Thank you all for walking this journey with me. Love, Kerrie

PS. Sorry this post was so long. I'll try not to wait so long between updates, so they will be much shorter!
I'd love to hear about your journeys and prayer needs.