Lessons I've learned since leaving the 812

Hindsight. Having an understanding of a situation after it has already happened or developed. If you have been on the journey you might be realizing that most of my blog posts come from a position of reflecting. Looking back into situations and seeing God's hand, looking back at how I should have navigated it a little differently. Looking back so I can move forward with even more momentum and more tools in my belt. I just came out of a very big season in life, Bible College. I thought it might be helpful to answer all the big questions I have been asked, let you in on some lessons I have learned, and hopefully teach you a little something in the process. Let's jump right in.

Sierra, why did you leave Indiana to go to Bible College? Do you plan to come back to still pursue nursing? What is next for you? How is California? The biggest question I get asked is what made you want to go into ministry in the first place? Or Hillsong College?

I am a firm believer that our lives are made up of a collection of our small, everyday choices. Or, the choices we let others make for us. It can be daunting because I don't wanna mess it up, ya know? I don't wanna miss God's perfect will for my life. When it came to the decision of stepping into ministry nothing else made sense. It was a clear call. God even went to drastic measures for me to know it was the door I had to walk through. It's not always like that though. Some seasons we have to just choose even when it feels like God is so silent. Or, God has already told you but doesn't want to repeat himself.

4 months before I was supposed to graduate Bible college I was on track to go to Indiana University Southeast. I wanted to continue playing softball, be a nurse like my mom, and be 45 minutes away from home. Everything was falling into place. In February I was asked to be a leader at what is called the Walk to Emmaus. It is a weekend retreat for high school girls that was so pivotal in my Christian walk. They asked me this year to come and be a table leader and give one of the messages. I was freshly 18. It was the lunch break before I was supposed to give the message. I had to go back to the main aud for whatever reason and I ran into this man. Probably in his upper 50s. He told me that I had been highlighted to him throughout the weekend and asked me my name. We began talking for a significant amount of time and he looked at me and said, “Sierra, I think God wants me to tell you that you are running from the call.”

One simple sentence that changed everything for me.

I instantly knew. But it felt impossible and out of reach. Girls couldn't do that? Girls couldn't be pastors right? But it was the thing that brought me the most joy. Watching people being transformed, praying over people I hadn't met, and watching Jesus sit at their feet and meet with them. Preaching his word, being in proximity of leaders I looked up to. That was the dream. I go home and research and pray. It again seemed so out of reach. The private schools I was looking at would put me in debt for the rest of my life. My mom was gonna freak out. The plan was changing so close to graduation.

Many other insane things happened to get me to Arizona but that's not the focus of this post, so ask me another time. (IE. My cousin lived 10 minutes from campus, I got local scholarships for the exact amount I needed for my 1st semester, my boyfriend dumped me 3 days after I told God I wasn't going to college anymore, and that if I was supposed to he was gonna have to end things because I couldn't) INSANE.

Anyways, I went to college with the intent of maybe making it a year. It was so far from home. I simply wanted to be obedient to what God spoke, and to be able to explain the essentials of my faith to people. Because at the time I could not.

Okay we got to Phoenix. What was the next question you had?

Oh yeah, am I coming back home to pursue nursing?

The answer to nursing is no. It's not something I am passionate about. At one time it did seem like the right move. I job shadowed the OB department and Hospice nursing. I was pretty set on it. In High school there is an insane amount of pressure to know what you are doing. At 15 years old I was getting asked what I wanted to do with my future. YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW RIGHT NOW. If I could shout this at the top of my lungs I would. I took 6 months off from school after high school to figure it out. I had people very concerned that I wouldn't go back to school or even that I was gonna throw my potential away. Don't listen. You are not behind, you are not gonna fail at life, and you are gonna save a lot of money in the meantime. Most people are coming from a sincere place, I promise. Just go and prove them all wrong! Run after the thing that makes you excited to get up everyday.

Those 6 months off set me up and are now allowing me to come out of college with 0 debt. Not one dollar. Anyways, next question.

What is next and what did you learn?

What is next? Not so sure. But I am not stuck. I have a lot of goals for this next season. More vision and expectation than ever. God just hasn't revealed the next step yet. Until then, I am staying put and getting to work.

What have I learned? Oh so much. So so much.

#1 Don't tell God you're never going to do something.

My very first year of college I went to California to visit my roommates home town. I hated California. LA was dirty, the water was COLD. It was overpriced and over-hyped. I audibly said, “I will never live in this state.” I will go anywhere but here God. 2.5 years later I was moving to California.

#2 Father, Son and Who?

On my first day of school I didn't know what the gifts of the spirit were. Who is the Holy Spirit? Speaking in tongues, gift of faith, prophecy? All a foreign concept. Prophesying is now a gift I operate in very frequently and with confidence in God's voice. (I will do a seperate blog post on this soon)

#3 Church should be enjoyed not endured

People will fail you, and hurt you time and time again. Don't give up on the Church. There is something so special about it, and I will fight for it.

#4 Community

Community. I didn't know what I didn't know. And now I know I cannot survive without it. Fight for it. Pray for it. Get uncomfortable.

#5 Guys Cry Too

Guys cry too and it's very powerful. Thank you all for giving me a new perspective.

#6 Gods plan >>>>>>>>>> Sierras

#7 Questions. So many dang questions.

I have a lot more questions than I came in with and that's kinda crazy. If you have ever had one class with me, I ask 1 million questions.

#8 If you leave “bridal college” still single, you’re still gonna get a certificate of completion. Don't stress too much.

#9 Your call is specific to you

If you try comparing or wanting what others have it will only prolong the process and more lessons will have to be learned. When God spoke to you it wasn't a conference call. Don't expect everyone to understand. Not one person understood why I was moving here. Financially, it didn't make sense, etc.

#10 Be the last one standing, it's worth it

When God told me in my first year that I would be the last one standing (after Covid sent a lot of people back home/ out of college) I didn't think he meant it that literally. (Four graduated in person from my original intake, I was the only girl of the four).

I learned a lot in these three years. I am full of expectation.The future being so unknown is terrifying but so exciting, because I serve a really big God. And, I am committing to being the last one standing. My prayer is that in 50 years I am more in love with building the Church and loving the people he places around me. And that I continue to ask the questions. God can handle all of your questions! If you made it this far, thanks for reading and always remember I am text, DM, or flight away to talk.

Love Always,

Sie