Part 2: Specific Areas Our two-hour meeting with the realtor was informative as she looked at a map with us and helped us better understand the growth and the feel of the different areas. We were reminded of the incredible growth as we read that in the next 5 years, Wake County will open 20 new schools. A blessing to us was having dinner with Journey’s director of church planting, Rob and his wife. It was incredibly helpful to have someone with which to process all the information we had collected. Rob and his wife are very down-to-earth and easy to connect with. We look forward to getting to know them better. Our excitement continues to grow as we find out more about Journey and how God is using them to reach Raleigh, and that we will get to hang out with them and glean wisdom. Over the next two days, we drove nearly 400 miles investigating the various areas. We love Raleigh! It’s beautiful! We were very excited as we saw first-hand the amazing growth. We drove around Apex, southeast of Raleigh, and were drawn to the dense population as represented by the bursts of huge shopping plazas and communities. Our concern there is that because the growth is more established, we may be priced out of the area. Plus, the schools there would be very confusing to figure out with our situation. Next we drove around Holly Springs, further south of Apex. While it is experiencing high growth, Eric and I both sensed that’s not the area for us. I again needed to intentionally refocus and trust that Jesus has a plan and will lead us. Then we drove up north of Raleigh to check out Wake Forest. Our excitement grew as we both sensed that this may be the right area for us. At this point the setting is still mixed; you go from a rural-feel to stretches of one new community after another. Clearly the growth has begun and is continuing. On one intersection alone, we counted 25 signs advertising different new communities! We found a couple neighborhoods that would work well for our school situation. There’s an elementary school very near with the program for Audrey. And the middle school is around the corner, having just opened two years ago. We gained a much better understanding of the area, and God deepened our passion as we considered the thousands of people represented by these new communities. I rejoice in the truth that the spirit of the living God resides within me, guiding, speaking, and revealing. This trip was practice in inviting Jesus to come into every situation, from feeling discouraged after the school meeting, overwhelmed by how we would figure things out, and excited at all the new communities. I repeatedly asked Jesus to help me process the information, and to give clarity and guidance. When I began feeling overwhelmed, I chose to trust Jesus. It was exhilarating to sense God directing us away from certain areas, while building excitement and desire for others. The Lord is continually reminding me that this whole journey is His plan and His doing, and he draws me to rely on him alone. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 12:54:40 +0000
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