My name is Christine Gerhart, I'm 28 years old and was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. I'm a graphic designer and a Christian (for about five years now). I found my relationship with Christ after going to an evangelical church (grew up Catholic). The head knowledge I grew up with become heart knowledge and my relationship with Christ became intimate and personal.
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| Christine! |
Ever since I can remember, I've had a goal of living outside Nebraska for at least one year of my life. For some reason, I've had an urge for adventure and didn't want to become a "lifer" (people who were born and raised in Nebraska and had never lived anywhere else). I was sure throughout my high school years that I would go to college out of state. But, as it happens in most cases, logic got in my way. I soon realized the cost of going out of state was unrealistic and soon found myself deciding between a two colleges in my hometown. Looks like I wouldn't reach my goal until after graduating.
For the record, I did apply for jobs out of state after graduating but none of them seemed to work out. Around that same time, I had become a new Christian and a full-time job at the church I was attending opened up. It was an opportunity too good not to take and was instrumental in my growth as a Christian. I also had the opportunity to go on my first short-term missions trip a year later with that church, which only increased my love for adventure and travel. It was terrifying to take a leap of faith and go to Africa for two and a half weeks, but the way I experienced God was something I wouldn't forget.
Life has a way of becoming routine and comfortable. After three years at the church, I found myself involved in a couple different ministries and my schedule was packed. My boss at the time encouraged me from time to time, that if I ever wanted to travel between jobs, I should check out a Torchbearers school in New Zealand that he and his wife attended a decade earlier. It seemed like a crazy idea, but being a single 25 year old, the thought seemed to linger as a possibility. I was surprised when I kept feeling nudges from God to look into going and that I should apply. Up to that point, my traveling had been all talk and God was slowly helping me put into action all the things I had said I wanted to do.
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| Capernwray Bible School, New Zealand |
After getting accepted, I moved in with a few friends to save money for the next year. I also had the opportunity to work a second job as an art teacher in the inner-city for a ministry I was a part of, which was another way God provided funds for the next year. It's incredible to look back and see all that God was already teaching me before I had even stepped foot on a plane. He was building my trust in Him and His provision that comes on His timing.
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| first day in New Zealand |
In July 2010, I left for New Zealand. I had never traveled internationally by myself. I arrived a few days early and had never stayed in a hostel by myself or navigated a foreign city by myself. Again, I found myself terrified and again, I felt a closer to Christ than I had ever before. God provided in so many ways. There are times I would pray for specific things that I needed for school and God would put it on someone's heart to give me money for the exact amount I was praying for. He blessed me at that first hostel with great roommates and even a room to myself the last couple nights. He gave me opportunities to share my faith in those first few days and this was all before I even got to the school.
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| hiking in NZ |
The next of my life was incredible. I learn what it meant to truly trust God when you have no plan B. I was stretched and challenged just as much as I was encouraged and affirmed. I was living the dream I had in my heart for years but only with and through Christ could I have ever made it a reality. It was during that year that God put the question in my heart, "what if this is your new normal?". What He was asking was what if I turned this "year of adventure" into a lifestyle? A life lived in dependence of Him and with Him as my plan A and no plan B. It was a turning point in my life and I can't imagine where I would be had I not trusted Christ and went to New Zealand.
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| NZ beauty |
I still don't have a plan B. Right now, I'm back in Nebraska preparing to spend a year in India come August. I have no idea what I'll do after that, but I have confidence that God knows and He'll tell me what I need to know, when I need to know it. He has given me other dreams that I can't wait to see fulfilled through His grace and strength. He is faithful, sufficient and so patient in His calling of us to Himself, whatever that looks like.
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Want to know more? Christine's shared her blog links... feel free to visit!
Current BLOG:
http://lifeandbunnytrails.wordpress.com/
Portfolio BLOG:
http://christinegerhart.wordpress.com/
NZ BLOG:
http://christinenz.blogspot.com/
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