Hey everyone! I hope this posting finds you all doing well. It's been quite awhile since my last posting but in that time there has been quite a journey of God's goodness, his provisions, and unmistakable kindness and blessing.
For me within the last 4-5 months I've felt a pressing on my heart to start my own small business. Not sure where, when, or how but feeling the ever present reminders.
I believe that God can and will use people you know, strangers, anyone to share with us his message of blessing and for me it was delivered faithfully on vacation. While having breakfast with a friend at our local villa in Boracay I met a man who happened to always be downstairs at the concierge/check in area- not knowing then he was the owner.
This gentleman by the name of Teddy sat down with us and asked us all about our trip, where we were from and what brought us to the Philippines. (A line of typical curious questions most guests received.) But what was interesting was that 10 minutes of polite conversation turned into over an hour of sharing about how he was the lead manager for a popular company in the USA for years, originally from the Philippines, and how one small investment working hard changed his life for his children and wife. - Now your response is probably like "Yes, of course, work hard and it will come" but his response was that of a man whose words confirmed the very echoes of what God had been placing in my heart to begin, but perhaps doubt and fear had become the obstacles I chose to throw in the way. The words he shared confirmed the truths laid within my very heart and although
I don't know if this man is a Christian but God chose to use him nonetheless.
After returning from a much needed rest and time of reflection I decided it was time. Let's do this. No plan really, not sure, just playing it by ear and following his lead. Before I knew it my guest bedroom which housed luggage and hanging close (wardrobes and closets are not popular here in Taiwan) were now relocated, reorganized. A school desk left over from an old classroom at school has become my primary work table coupled with a built in cabinet that houses basic office supplies, file folders, and now catalogs.
The local "everything" store as we call it was the source for everything pink related to the start up for my new Thirty-One business. School supply bins, pink highlighters, pink pens, I was a like a barricuda attracted to all things pink! - I've never been a girlie girl so this is quite unusual behavior for me. - Just sayin....
The local stationary market and personnel now know me by first name- pink calculator, calendars, everything I would normally need to do this in the USA. BUT I'M IN TAIWAN. Yes this started to hit me rather quickly as the rush and excitement of starting something up new began to sour into doubt, small fear, and concern with rehearsing thoughts like " What if this flops? What if I did all of this for nothing? What if I don't get a single order and embarrass myself in front of friends, family, and strangers?"
There was short period in here that I thought I made a mistake. I could stop what I'm doing, turn back, and it didn't cost me anything right? These all crossed my mind. Sadly this was all within the first month and BEFORE I'd even received my enrollment kit to really even begin!! I was starting to let this creep in, and I didn't like it.
There was part of me that felt like I hadn't committed this entirely to the Lord. Yes I needed the money, yes I had the drive to do this and want it.. but was it what He wanted for me? In this busy time was this the right time? Finishing up Graduate School, teaching full time for an international school in Taiwan... was it too much and had I loaded my plate too full again?
If you are not familiar with ThirtyOne to help ladies get the products they need to help them with what's going on in their lives you have to schedule parties. "How can I do this? " I'm overseas? I know a few of the expat circles and crowds, what about shipping... ?" All of these things raced through my head.
After continued prayer and committing this to him, sharing-pouring out my desires I gave him back this business from start to finish what had been given to me- the ideas, the resources, the finances to begin it, and realized none of this is worthwhile if it drives my time, my focus, away from him. Take it. Make something beautiful from it. So my heart cry at this time.. at that moment was to "let this glorify you Lord."
From the racing doubts came 1 party confirmed on the calendar, then 2, then 3, then 4, then 6 all in a week and a half. From one goal that felt ridiculously difficult to reach came the result of meeting it twice over.
I pray that in this He continues to use me to make some amazing relationships, help make life a little easier for others and in all ways grow close to him.
