So my friend got some news yesterday. It was not bad news. It was great news. It was news that we have all been waiting on her to receive. News that would alter life a bit, move her to a place way colder than Austin, TX and get her to where her heart has been for the last four years.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Addy Esco is moving to Wrangell, Alaska.
I’m waiting on that location to actually hit me. I think she is waiting on it to actually hit her. I think that when it does, we shall all have one of many good cries between now and December.
Here is a timeline in a nut shell. In 2004, the Ortiz’s meet Addy (and a bunch of other amazing people who are actually a huge part of this story), we all serve in youth ministry together with Matt and Jenifer Gerald. The end of 2006, we prepare to move to Tonkawa, OK to be youth pastors, Addy moves to Seguin to go to school, the Gerald’s prepare to move to Wrangell, AK to be youth pastors there (have I mentioned it’s an island?). Addy moves back to Austin to go to UT. She suspiciously spends every summer in Wrangell and weeps at the thoughts of returning to the continental United States. The Ortiz’s move to San Angelo to be youth pastors, Addy pursues her Bachelor’s, Gerald’s…they are in Alaska. We move back to Austin to start Revive Church (Addy has known this part of our heart for years), Addy spills the less than shocking beans that she plans to move to Wrangell. Soon after all this, we find out that her move will be soon (insert Tracy not wanting to talk about it…at least we live right down the street from each other). We continue to watch God move…and we all wait together.
Here we are. We have all carried each other in prayer, carried the burdens together, same boat, different seas at times….but all in it together. This will continue. We know the road ahead is unknown…we have learned and will continue to learn together that it is a far greater thing to take the risk and pursue the vision God has seared in your heart than to risk nothing and do nothing.
Addy is amazing… we just don’t know what we will do when December quickly rolls around. Seriously, I think my 3yr old may throw a huge protest!
Alaska is a blessed state…it is home to some of my favorite people on the planet…and it is getting another.
I find myself so grateful for the reality that even though distance sucks…there are friendships that are not broken by it. There is much to be said about friends like these.
Psalm 5:12 – For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.
I love when I get to see that shield in the form of other people, lifting each other up, carrying life together….it’s awesome.
I will end this post with this:
“People are worried that if they surrender their lives to God that He will send them to Africa…he could send you to ALASKA” – Jenifer Gerald