Chasing Dorothy...The Return to Kansas
Mood:  a-ok

Well, it's July. For me, July holds that infamous pattern of being one of the worse months of my life. It's not that I have tons of bad memories, it's just that this month has had some unforeseen bad things happen throughout my life that just happen to land in July. I could go down in my past life and recount so many things that make July that one month of the year that leave me gasping for a fresh smell of God's goodness. It also makes me think of the Tribulation period, since it will last seven years. Well, July is the seventh month of the year; a very strange concept indeed. lol

But I'm not here to talk about July being a bad month for me (I can save that for another entry, and it just might be so watch out) but rather to mention that this is the month that I had long ago set aside for travel. Originally, I was planning on visiting Hillsboro, Kansas and see a friend of two years I met there. He is a young evangelist who desires nothing more to travel and take the gospel with him and tell whoever is in his path about Jesus Christ. He would go to great lengths to ensure someone heard the gospel of Christ; it's that serious to him (and it should to me and all of us Christians as well).  But I'll be staying with him and we're planning on some things to do; most likely going out to witness, cause he's always talking about that when I hear from him. I'm also going to see my girlfriend, of recent, and to move things into the official courting arena. Plus, to annouce to those who don't already know that I'm now in a relationship and will covet your prayers as I seriously consider some important deicisons. But now to worry, it's still going to be some time before other things are considered. We also haven't met before so this is really an initial meeting to get things off the ground. For those that are curious, we meet through eharmony more than a year ago. We originally planned this meeting when she was working in Atlanta and was planning to see her family in July of this year. Due to some changes, however, she is now in Kansas on a long-term basis for school but we kept the date since it kinda stuck. While I do expect the best, I still keep us in prayer because I want all things to happen in God's time and in His own way. So aside from these reasons, I making this trip part of a retreat. That means that I'm not taking any videogames with me (yes, I said that....lol...don't be so surprised). That leads me to the other reason I'm going to Hillsboro...

Sometime ago, Hillsboro has been on my radar. What I mean is that similar to how I've been prompted in the past to be lead in going places, the same has been true in recent times concerning this town. However, it wasn't clear when this would occur, as far as my going. While this is more a visitation and vacation, God may be leading me to return to Hillsboro on a more long-term (if not permanent) basis in the future, namely after my education at Washington Bible College (and Lord-willing Capital Bible Seminary). So, part of my time in Hillsboro will be prayfully seeking God's will on wether or not this will be the case. Even if He doesn't give me an answer this time around, I have been praying sporadically about just to be sure. For now, though, I would to make visits to Hillsboro every summer (Lord-willing) from here on out; I would like to buy a house their and rent it out at some point in the future and make it a vacation spot that I can start establishing for my future family. I also know three pastors in that area, two of which are copastors and the third is the pastor of First Baptist of Hillsboro;they are Southern Baptist affliated. The two copastors are of the Mennonite Brethren denomination and very dear mentors and friends; I received a bit counsel and advice in my last relationship from the senior pastor. The church he pastors is Parkview Mennonite Brethren church; the website is currently down unfortunately. But overall, I'm expecting this trip to be refreshing, enlightening, and a great memory that would make something wonderful come out the month of July. It is an exciting time for me overall, though... I can't wait.

So, Saturday is the appointed day that I will flying out to Wichita, KS to the ICT airport. It's the closet city  that leads into Hillsboro. I'm leaving behind the things that make up my normal world so that I can develope a better sense of my spiritual world; a world with God and His plans for me and me giving up my life in order to follow what God has in store for my life. I am planning on taking our relationship to the next level on the basis of prayer and walking with God to show me His will for my life concerning us and our future relationship. I would like my commitment, once it's official that we are courting, to be more than what is now; for the next year, I want to focus on developing our continued friendship as well as a foundation that is set on prayer, Bible reading, and constant communion with God and with each other (as God will permit us) so that our relationship will be made more clear and that it will remain different than the typical courtship that two people commitment themselves in. In other words, I want us to develop our spiritual union more than the natural one; the physical attraction will grow as the spiritual attraction increases in its potential service and love for the Lord. So, it looks I'll be chasing Dorothy once more as I return to Kansas this Saturday. My oh my, what a ride it's going to be; those winds can be treacherous, but God has the power to calm the storm.