*My Visa*

On December 6th I had my appointment with the French Consulate in Atlanta Georgia about getting my visa to live in France for 12 months. The interview went well, I was asked a few questions and told to present all the required paperwork to them. The man who interviewed me said I needed 3 more documents that I didn't have or that weren't correct. So I went home to immediately get these things and have them mailed back to the consulate. 1 of the documents needed translated into French and that ended up being somewhat complicated but God worked everything out! It all took longer than expected so my paper work was not all in one place as it should be until December 19th! So as of today Wednesday December 21st I have a plane ticket to fly with the Cole family to France one week from now on the evening of Wednesday December 28th so I am waiting for my visa to arrive before then!...... I am praying for a miracle right now! Everything but the visa is set and ready to go. My job is completed, I've moved out of my apartment, my bags are packed, my dog is with my Grandparents, I've been meeting with friends this week to say goodbye for now, etc.The financial side of things looks pretty good - God has worked through so many people to provide support for me and I'll continue trusting Him for that while I'm in France. The economy is bad and people said it couldn't be done but HIS servants still have very giving hearts, even when they don't have much to give - it's a beautiful thing! I am so thankful - to the Cole's for all their help and support, for the few Churches that have let me share my testimony, for all the individuals who have sacrificed their money, to the ones who came and helped me clean my apartment, to my parents for letting me come back home for a couple weeks and all the love and support their giving me, to my siblings for dealing with all my crazy moods and loving me anyway :)  to Jenny for taking road trips with me :)  and to my Church, Bible study group, and all my friends who are just plain amazing! I have to admit that I've been super busy and many days I'm stressed and anxious, I wish I wouldn't react that way but I'm human and I do. But no matter how things look to my crazy brain, or how exhausted I get with all the details and emotions, I KNOW the truth. I know how blessed I am. I know that God is in control and that He loves us and has plans and longs for us to follow Him - we're commanded to go out and tell the world about Him. My prayer for this new year is that I will keep Him as my top priority in my life. There will always be something crazy going on but if He's not first what meaning does any of this have? I don't want to be too busy for Him or His Word. I want to change and let these experiences grow my faith. I want to have a love for Him bigger than I can ever even imagine! I don't know what all will happen next year but I hold onto the hope of {Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus}. Someone told me the other day that when I'm busy and tired and feel like I can't be who I need to be just tell God exactly that - God I can't do it all, I need help, I need You. So that is my prayer as I wait for my visa, and for everything else unknown! The song I wrote says "So I trust You, I trust You with the lyrics of my life". He is writing this all out, from beginning to end, He's got it under control, and I want to stop trying to hold on to anything but Him! 

God knows what He's doing-even if I don't :)

Here's a little history on how God led me to where I am now, and I'm so thankful He has! There are many ups and downs but I'm learning that He is always good - whether your circumstances are or not. 

After graduating high school (2007) I worked in a daycare, 'floating' to different rooms/age groups, I settled as the preschool teacher of the 3 year old classroom! I loved that job and adored the kids, it had huge challenges but overall it was a ton of fun and I learned a lot! I worked there for 1 year. Several months into it my Dad (a pastor) received an e-mail from a missionary family looking for a nanny to come to Vietnam for a year to help with their 3 kids. He mentioned it to me (after my sister suggested it-thank you Rachel!) and I jumped at the opportunity. I had been praying for God to tell me whether to stay where I was or to move on. So I sent an application to the missionaries; they knew me a little and knew my parents very well and after a few weeks they accepted me! They didn't have extra funds to pay me so I was going as a missionary myself, not as an employee. This was in March of 2008, there was 4 months to raise the financial support needed. God provided every penny, and then some, it was miraculous! There's much more to that story, for another time :)   I lived in Vietnam for 1 year (summer '08 to summer '09), then came back to the states and have been a nanny in Nashville for almost 2 and a half years. In March of this year I got a text message from a friend/pastor's wife that I sometimes babysit for and she said she knew a missionary family looking for a nanny and if I was interested she would give them my number! Because of my experiences in Vietnam she had recommended me to them. I  spoke to them on the phone and then met them in person a couple weeks later. We all clicked quickly and I loved their 2 little girls from day 1 :)    We all spent a couple months in prayer before really moving forward with the details. We're confident this is what God is leading us to, so Lord willing I will spend 2012 in Bordeaux France with Michael & Liz Cole and their children - Viviane (4 yrs.) Adeline (almost 2 yrs.) and baby Mathieu (7 weeks)!!

Once again I'm going as a supported Missionary, not as their employee. I'll live on my own and the children will be my main focus/ministry, while Michael & Liz attend language school (this will be their first year living in France). Our biggest mission though is sharing the gospel of our Savior with the people of France! Please pray for us as we continue raising the financial support needed; we are also trying to work out the many details it takes to get a visa to live in France.. There is a lot of paperwork involved and I have to appear at the French Consulate in Atlanta on December 6th.. Our prayer is to all be able to fly to France together at the end of December! This will take God helping us through (or moving) the many obstacles that are on the path. We're trusting Him, and taking one day at a time. While trying not to let details stress me out :)  Right now I'm training a new nanny to take over with Will, the little boy I've taken care of this year (this is very emotional); trying to get insurance things taken care of from my car accident in September (drama); and preparing to sell my belongings and move out of my apartment December 17th (need furniture? - let me know!); God is teaching me so much through all of this - main point - trust Him! He's leading, He'll come through, and it's out of my hands! I want to enjoy the journey - I'm so blessed!

Love,
*Rissa*

I will follow

Where you go, I'll go

Where you stay, I'll stay

When you move, I'll move

I will follow...



All your ways are good

All your ways are sure

I will trust in you alone

Higher than my sight

High above my life

I will trust in you alone



Where you go, I'll go

Where you stay, I'll stay

When you move, I'll move

I will follow you

Who you love, I'll love

How you serve I'll serve

If this life I lose, I will follow you

I will follow you



Light unto the world

Light unto my life

I will live for you alone

You're the one I seek

Knowing I will find

All I need in you alone, in you alone



In you there's life everlasting

In you there's freedom for my soul

In you there joy, unending joy

and I will follow


~Chris Tomlin

Newest Adventure

This is my first ever blog! It's for everyone that wants to keep up with my newest adventure - to France! I want to start it now to share the ways God has already been doing amazing things... And I know it will take a miracle from Him to get me to France by the end of December or beginning of January! I hope to update every few days or so. Love to all!


~Rissa