A new path... or the same path in a new light?

As Robby and I begin to get back into the flow of things here in Kentucky, I am still amazed how quickly things start falling into place as one begins to see more clearly the path God has for them.  Immanuel Baptist, here in Corbin, is going through "What on Earth am I here for?" by Rick Warren in our small groups.  And it make us both think deeply about just that, what journey-task does God have for us here on earth?


Robby and I know Dine Bikeyah and the Navajo are part of the journey-task, but how that is to play out, that is still the question.  But as spring of 2013 dawns over Kentucky, the Nickles have a journey of discovery before them...

~  Traveller Gal, out!

Returning to Kentucky...

Winds of change, do to lack of work here, do to lack of stable housing, do to tack of.... well so much.  We love our friends, we love my adopted family, we wish we could spend more time with my birth family... but right now we have to think of what is best for Robby and me, to get on our feet, and get heading back to Dine Bikeyah.  It might be a year, it might be two, but we will get back to Dine Bikeyah.  For now Kentucky is the next stop...

~  Traveller Gal, out!

Living our Faith...

 When we talk about living our faith, and being Jesus hands and feet, what do we really think about? Do we see a poor widow?  Do we see the fatherless kids down the street?  Do we remember the thousands without clean water?  Do we think of the many without a meal, espcially the 1 in 5 children who will not eat today?  Do we remember the orphans, the homeless, the strangers, and the outcasts?  Do we think of those ill?  Do we think of those alone?  Do we care?    Do we picture feeding 5,000?

 When Robby and I returned to Kentucky, we also returned to our anchor church here, Immanuel Baptist Church of Corbin, because of their heart to reach the world.  Little did we know we would be returning during the Love Loud outreach, which is not just hosted by IBC but many other churches from the area.  One of the goals is to feed 5,000.  How?  That is the awesome part...


Have you ever gone to church Sunday and had a reverse offer?  What is that?  Were the church passed the offering plate and TOLD you to take $1 dollar out for yourself.  Then we learned about the parable of the talents   Then we all, along with many other churches descended upon walmart (only food place that could handle all of us), and each spend that money, and many of us beyond that, to buy food for others.  Result?  One large truck, plus 7 small pick-ups full of food...  how many feed still pending...  That to me is living our faith... in a BIG way.

~ Traveller Gal, out!

Cool Weather Begins...

Fall is starting to creep into our weather here.  It gets me thinking of cutting wood, but here in Kentucky we dont need to for the winter.  Wish we did...  I miss our wood burning fire place. In New Mexico I knew my place, what was expected of me...  Here I am at a loss, I am not the woman of the house... I am just the young woman living here.  Tis a strange feeling...

With work starting next week, our dreams are starting to seem in reach, but it will not be easy.  It will not happen in a day, a week, possibly in a year, but it is coming... As fall settles in and winter is just around the bend, that is the joy we hold on to... the hope of our calling which the Lord has given us...  that will keep us going through this time far from our beloved Dine' Bikeyah.

~ Traveller Gal, out!

Moving...

Well, the open road and moving just when from being metaphorical to being reality. August 13th or 14th, we shall be hitting the road for Kentucky.  Where we will be living is in the country between the cities of London and Corbin, but the address says London, KY.  LOL, and no that is NOT London, England...  Tis a beautiful place, with family all around (my husband's), and prayerfully work for us...

I hate it more than I can say...If we could stay in New Mexico forever I would...As it stands, we plan on getting jobs in Kentucky, live there for a year or so... then return.  My heart is breaking to leave my beloved Dine Bikeyah for a time, and I would be going crazy were it not for the fact we will be returning... Returning to our Navajo family, to our home town of Thoreau...  To the youth we have poured our lives into...
 

So as we pack to travel, a peace rest in my heart... While this gypsy returns to the road, her heart remains behind in Dine Bikeyah...

Traveller Gal, out!

29 years and counting...

 Thinking Back....

Twenty-nine years, that is a long time to walk the earth.  There have been alot of ups and alot of downs on this journey, both of the heart and of the soul.  In my first six months, I had 3 mothers: birth, foster, adopted.  In my first 3 years of life I had at least 4 homes.  At four I surrendered my life to God.  At seven I was called to missions... and the rest is history!

At 15 I went on my first mission trip, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico.  At 16 I was called to the Navajo.  Just after that, still in my 16th year, I became very ill and was bedridden most of the time till late in my 17th year.  At 18 I went on my second missions trip, New Orleans, LA, USA.  At 19 I began doing online ministry to the subcultures and at-risk teens.  At 23, I went on my third mission trip, to Charlotte, NC, USA.  At 24, I sought to start a safe house for at risk youth, but never totally got it up off the ground.  Later that year, at almost 25, I married my beloved Rob Nickles.

At  25, I went for the first time on a mission trip to Navajo Nation, as Rob had done off and on since 1995.  Then that same year we moved to Chicago, and remained for 14 months.  Then it was off to Kentucky, Kansas, and Arizona, before moving to Thoreau NM.  What joys, what trials, and what blessings lie between!  Such a life I have lead, out here on the open road... God has been good even in the hard times.  I am blessed.


~ Traveller Gal, out!