Boundaries?

Another week in Oklahoma has gone by! Can't believe it is going so quickly. I have been trained even more and I think I will get to start charting this afternoon on the three to eleven shift. I finally get to be (somewhat) of a night owl!  Anyways, the craziness of the shelter keeps me on my toes and every day is a new day. Nothing will ever be routine around here and I love it! During the past week I have read policy after policy after policy and have assisted with the process of taking in new women (intake for future reference). Sadly, I have also helped with the exit of a lady I had a small connection with through poetry. I never got to read any of her poetry, but we bonded because we both like to write.

Since I have been here, my supervisor has told us to maintain boundaries. For example, on an off day, we do not have to help with preparing dinner if we do not want to. A more serious one is just following the boundaries that have already been set and put into place. At first I thought I was going to find this difficult because I am not one to continually stand my ground. Believe it or not, boundaries are easy to set and easy to stick to (as of right now).

I made a boundary early on, that on Sundays if I was not working, I would not go to church with the ladies that I serve, but find somewhere else to go. Mostly this was set so that I could have time away from them and be spiritually nourished and not feel like I was working  when I am not. Yesterday was Sunday and I did  not have to work until three, so I decided to go to church with my supervisor. Another staff member had asked if we were going to go to church with her and the ladies so she could have help. In a lovingly way, I told her no. She then got a look of disappointment that almost made me say "Okay, let me go change the church the ladies go to is rather traditional  and I will go." But, I stuck to my boundary and got to hear this awesome sermon about FREEDOM. Had I not stuck to that boundary, I would have missed out on that.

Slowly but surely I am finding that boundaries are a good thing and it is okay to say "No" to something. In Exodus, where that awesome sermon came from God set boundaries for His people. Also known as, the Ten Commandments. So if God sets boundaries and has the ability to say "No" then I should be able to as well. Finding freedom in being able to set boundaries is wonderful!

This Oklahoma life is crazy, but I know I am in God's will every single day because every day it seems He is stretching me and taking me out of my comfort zone. Pushing me out of the box I have put myself in. This process is not at all easy, but wonderful to experience. Being around these women is so encouraging. Listening to their stories and hearing how they are figuring out who God is is just amazing. I feel as if they are ministering to me just as much if not more, as I am to them

Before I go, I have a few prayer request:

• The lady that left the shelter is potentially going back to the situation that brought her to the shelter. 
• That our team remains strong and can continue to confide in one another.
• A staff member I work with is having family problems and is not sure what to do next. 
• Another staff member is having a baby soon and will be adjusting to working a new shift.
• And the ladies that are here as they are growing in Christ.

-amgfinding_freedom