A Note To You and A Call To Some

[Heather DeStena]

(Prepare yourself for a LONG email... Note, the call is at the end, so stay strong and read on! And if you find yourself ready to skim, know I don't blame you, but just make sure you hit the last couple of paragraphs. Alright, let's go...)

THE NOTE:

Dearest Pilgrims and Victors,

I hope you know that each time I write those words, I find them so very sweet. Dear Pilgrims and Victors. This is our group - a band of beautiful women fiercely fighting for the Lord in a world that is not our home, while on a road to most certain victory that is mysteriously already ours.

But I digress. For those that were there last week, you already know (some) of what I am about to say. For those that weren't, I want to share some news with you...

In a little over two weeks time (how is it that soon!?), I will be taking a massive leap of faith that will lead me to Denver, Colorado. As you know, I've been interviewing for a gig out there for some time, and last week... I accepted the official offer!

It's real. It's crazy. It's fast. It's exciting. It's scary. It's sad.

In sum... it's beautifully, painfully bittersweet.

While yes, the job may be moving be there, I honestly believe it is the Lord who is leading me there. You know, if I was to leave three years ago, it would have been in pursuit of greener grass and a happier, better version of me that I idealistically believed lived somewhere over the rainbow in Denver. I am thankful to the Lord for staying my hand in those wanderlust dreams. Because in them, he taught me to truly love this city and more importantly, it's people. 

I originally came to Dallas in a season of intense pain and suffering. Need I say it was a lot of tears, a lot of prayer, and equally as much emotional ice cream. I vividly recall my first visit to The Village, when I came in desperate need of hope and family. The Lord, as is so like him, blessed me beyond my imagining. He provided what I did not even know I needed. At that time, I could not imagine a day when my heart would not be hurting, and yet I still hoped for it. Over the next several years, he would use that hurt and sorrow to teach me the true meaning of HOPING in HIM alone. He taught me to depend on Him, not myself. He taught me to find comfort in His arms, not mans. To be content where He had me today, not tomorrow. And always, always, to long for eternity. 

To the praise of His name, this is a part of my testimony: HE RENEWS HOPE. 

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

That said, know I do not go without recognizing just how much I am leaving behind... A blessed job. A vibrant church. A beautiful home. A very cherished family. And part of that is you, my dear friends. The Pilgrims and Victors. You have challenged me, encouraged me, ministered to me more than you could ever know. I see the Lord moving in each and every one of you, and I am beyond honored and humbled to have spent the last two years living with and learning from you.

So yeah, I'll admit, I am scared to leave that all behind, and it is not without a fair share of doubt. My heart wavers, my knees are weak, and yet my feet are compelled to carry me forth...

Because to the praise of His name, this is a part of my testimony: HE CALLS US TO TRUST.

That is where I am today. Not sure what will happen AT ALL, and certainly afraid of the unknown. But I'm realizing... isn't that the hallmark of faith? We are sure of what we can not know. And so I am asking the Lord for strength and courage as I take this step. That he would guide me on this path -- wherever it may lead (and who knows, maybe one day to curve and return to Dallas??). 

While I do not know much, this I do know: 

It is He who determines our allotted periods and the boundaries of our dwelling places, that we would seek Him, and perhaps feel our way toward Him and find Him. Yet He is actually not far from each one of us, for in Him we MOVE, and LIVE, and HAVE OUR BEING. (Acts 17:26-28)

So whether I'm here in Dallas, or in Denver, or anywhere, the purpose: that I would seek Him. And realize He is actually quite near. Oh God, how I pray that for each of us!

True to form, I've rambled. But the one thing I cannot say enough... Thank you for loving me well and helping me to know more of the Lord's love through YOU. For that, I will be eternally grateful!

THE CALL:

As I will be pilgriming on, our beautiful Kaelyn will continue to faithfully and excellently lead P&V. But she will be needing some help. Let me be clear that we are not looking for my "replacement," but for a woman who is on her own journey to follow the Lord, in all the beauty and mess that comes along with it. That said, we would ask that you all commit to praying through whether or not this is a place you are feeling led to serve. Our prayer is the Lord will stir and you would respond.

You might be thinking teaching isn't your thing. Well, it really wasn't mine either. One thing I've learned in my time at P&V is that we are all different members of the same body, so "leading" is going to look different with each person. And regardless, it is the Lord who truly leads anyways! So if you are feeling "not ready" or "too busy" or "any-number-of-fears-and-doubts," then we say... GOOD. Because where you feel weak, you will lean into Him and His strength will be made more known. After all, it's His glory we're about, not our own, amiright? :)

Consider. Pray. Come chat with me or Kaelyn or Maggie. We are very much looking forward to it.

Alright P&V, it is with much and always love,

Heather