Mission Accomplished

My handful of subscribers deserve some regular posts at long last, as well as an apology. No excuses, just sincere regret, and hopes for better days ahead.

Moving forward, I will say that I have achieved a goal that I had set for myself a little under four years ago. I have finished the requirements for my Bachelors Degree in Biblical Studies at Lancaster Bible College. My last class finished three weeks ago.

To celebrate, I put this recliner on lay away at a local furniture store. I do much of my school work on a ‘rescue’ recliner off someone’s curb.

I intend to continue my education, and much of it will be online, so I decided to upgrade my equipment. I have the recliner half paid for already.

Lord willing, I start the next leg of the journey in January. I will study Disability Ministry at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI. I am currently starting my QIDP certification (Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional) and doing an online sign language course. When I get all that done, I hope to return to LBC for a Masters Degree in Social Work. All this should set me up to manage any type of group home or transitional housing facility.

I do not plan to ‘walk the stage’ for graduation because my children are gathering that same weekend in Virginia for a family Christmas. We have not been together since 2011, so it’s pretty important to me. My diploma will be mailed to me, and I am fine with that. Maybe I will walk for my MSW.

My parents have been gone for over 20 years, but us going to college was important to them. Getting my degree is a way I can honor them and their hopes for me, and that feels good.

So rejoice with me! I started schooling when so much of my life felt out of my control. I wanted something I could feel successful in. Little did I know that I would have a home, job, church, and physical strength all beyond anything I could have even dreamed. Surely God is restoring what the locast tried to eat.