Hill of Beans

In 2010 I was working 3 different jobs, volunteering at Convoy of Hope and going to school. I was one busy girl. Yet in the midst of this busy season, God began birthing a dream in my heart--Start a coffee shop.

Missions had always been my heart's desire and starting a coffee shop just didn't seem to fit into this plan. The more I tried to push this idea away, the stronger it became until I eventually started entertaining the idea. Researching costs, designing kiosks, and sketching up a logo consumed most of my free time but in the end the cost of everything forced me to put down this dream.

I remember praying, "Lord, I don't understand this intense desire to open a coffee shop AND to work in missions. I don't see how they will work together for me...I give these details to you. Use them as you want!" That very week I met with Charles and Tahnya Porter who invited me to do my internship with them in Tanzania. I asked him what they would have me do and he said, "Whatever you want! If you could do anything, what would it be?" My immediate response was to open a coffee shop (which I said with a roll of the eye knowing they would probably laugh). Charles and Tahnya looked at each other and told me they had been praying about opening up one for years, but didn't have anyone to lead it.

Two years after that dream birthed in my heart, I am now helping to open a ministry coffee shop in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. THIS is what the Lord had in mind when He purposefully placed that dream in my heart. I came across some of my original notes for my coffee kiosk. "Hill of Beans" was the name I thought of to mean that what little efforts I have will amount to something. Giving to missions was the heartbeat. Full circle. Dream fulfilled.

Details! Sweet Details!

A lot has happened since my last post! About 2 weeks ago, I found out that I will be able to return to Tanzania the beginning of June! What a surge of emotions I've been feeling! I've been excited and happy, but saying goodbye to family and friends never gets easier! What a blessing it has been to reconnect and visit with people I love!

This past week, I was given the opportunity to train and enhance my barista skills (an answer to a years worth of prayers)! With the help of my friend Phil, the Classic Rock Coffee Company opened their doors to me and allowed me to use their shop for training! Let me tell you, using all of their top of the line equipment was a dream!! I don't know how an espresso machine can make me so happy, but it does! lol Phil is the top trainer at CRCC and with his heart for missions, the training became even more helpful! 

More and more, little details continue to fall in place. From things needed, to prayers answered, to continued confirmations in my heart, the Lord has been reminding me that HE IS IN CONTROL. I love how He is a God of details.....such beautiful, sweet details.

Phil and the bean grinder.

Their custom made espresso machine!

My friend Chrystina came to visit!

Pulling a shot!

Bean roaster

The CRCC lounge

The Happy Trail

"A paper trail is a happy trail." - advice given me from the administrative assistant before me.

When an event was coming that our department sponsored, there didn't seem to be enough hours in the day to complete my work. By the end of the day, the top of my desk and my computer screen would be covered in color coded post-it notes, reminding me of all the little things I had to complete. When I finished completing one task, I would throw that note away and move onto the next one. What a satisfying feeling it was when there were only a handful of post-its left! Her advice to me really helped. As a matter of fact, it began to affect other areas of my life.

There are many times when I am at school, work, in a meeting, or alone that I will become overwhelmed with something or feeling burdened for someone. Grabbing whatever paper I could find or using my computer, I would quickly jot down a heartfelt prayer, tuck the paper away, and move on with the day. Most of the time I would forget about them, until much time had passed and I would come across the prayer I wrote. Since my time being home, I have been following a random 'paper trail' of prayers. Going through storage containers, old journals, through Bibles, old purses, in my jewelry box and even on my computer! All of them share a commonality- surrender and God's faithfulness.

Some of these prayers bring back the emotions with which they were written and others remind me of the prayers I am currently praying. Many of them I have come to see the Lord's hand on and His fulfillment of them. I see how He provided, how He led, and how He remained with me through tough times. With each paper on this trail I find, it brings with it hope and a knowing that God is still in control.

So remember, "A paper trail is a happy trail!" :0)