Here We Go Again

Rostrevor, Round II. Return to An Cuan, A Sequal. Mamma Mia, Here We Go Again. All suitable titles for the story I have to tell you, although I think that last one might be already taken. Allow me to set the stage, though the setting has already been shared.

EXT. - A PARK BENCH, NORTHERN IRLEAND - AFTERNOON - EARLY AUTUMN

KELSEA'S JUST HUNG UP AFTER A PHONE CALL WITH YWAM CARDIFF LEADER, LIDIA, WHERE SHE [KELSEA] HAS JUST INFORMED HER [LIDIA] THAT SHE [KELSEA] WON'T BE RETURNING TO CARDIFF. KELSEA IS CRYING, DUE TO THE KINDNESS OF LIDIA'S RESPONE.

Okay, allow me to explain. As I shared during the summer, I have been living in Northern Ireland since April. The original plan was to come for a six month sabbatical, during which I would be shifting my focus from ministry to intentional therapy with the goal of moving back to Cardiff mid-October to return to ministry work. Now, cut to the beginning of October. A few weeks before I was meant to be back in Cardiff I received the news that my previous housing situation would no longer be an option, which in full honesty was quite unexpected news. Unexpected enough to leave me scrambling at what to do next. As it so happened, I got the news a day before I was planning to do a residential week with my therapist. You can imagine what we spent most of our time talking through. After lots of conversations with my therapist, close friends, my leaders, and with lots of prayer it was decided that I would extend my time away from ministry to the end of this year. This would give me time to sort out what was going to happen next, as well as give me a chance to prepare for whatever that ended up being. I collected my things from Cardiff, saying a goodbye to that team who had loved me so well. I returned to Northern Ireland a bit discouraged, confused as to where to go next, and very tired at the thought of starting over again.

I took the next few months to have a lot of conversations, and spend a lot of time in prayer. Was ministry still what God had for me? If so, where was I supposed to go? What was I supposed to do? I had felt so sure that Cardiff was where I'd be spending the next few years. But now that felt unlikely. It made the most logical sense to just stay in Rostrevor where I'd been over the summer, but I didn't want to just assume that was the next step. Was my time in missions over?

I come to you now, at the end of a very unexpected year, to say that I don't have all the answers. But I do know what the next step is, which is that I will be staying in missions and starting in Janurary I'll be rejoining staff at YWAM An Cuan. The details of what I'll be doing are still being ironed out, but I'm ready to get back into familiar rhythms. I'm relearning how to hold my plans loosely while also being confident in my ability to hear God's voice. I'm a bit nervous at what next year will bring, but I'm also choosing to trust the Lord through whatever that is. Easier said than done, and who knows what changes will come in 2024. But I have seen and experienced God's faithfulness through a sometimes painful and messy time. I've seen it in the prayers of my home community. I've seen it in the loving release of the team in Cardiff. I've seen it in the welcome embrace of the team in Rostrevor. I've seen it through the financial provision from my support network. I've seen it in the continued patience and encouragement from everyone around me as I've worked to figure out the next step. Thank you all for being an extension of God's love and care for me this year!

I hope and pray that the Lord's grace and peace would be with each of you as you step into the New Year and everything that it holds.

Much love,

Kelsea