Katie Forbess, IRSM Board President, wrote the following in preparation for one of our early IRSM newsletters. It is a perfect example of transformation—on a personal and a ministry level. May you be blessed with this story of God's working in Iron Rose Sister Ministries. I invite you, as Katie also does at the close, to join us in prayer for the ministry and your possible role in IRSM for the future.
"God will give you the desires of your heart"
No one could have told me last year at this time (November 2013), as I was packing up my life and my family to make the international move back to the states what God had in store for me. I have been incredibly blessed over the last year and one of the major sources of these blessings has been Iron Rose Sister Ministries. I didn't want to leave my life in Bolivia but it was happening. I didn't want to leave my co-worker, Trish. I cried every day and sometimes would go to her door, cry, and then when I had myself somewhat together, knock on the door.
I have another friend in Cochabamba that prayed that God would send me friends in Arkansas. That's a true friend. She did such a great job and I have incredible friends here. Yet one of the greatest friendships came with the rekindling of an old friendship.
Three months after returning to the states, I read Michelle's announcement about her new ministry and I knew that I had to be a part of it. Even in the smallest way, I wanted to help her, pray for her, and be a part of this awesome ministry. It was the first time since I left Bolivia that I felt like there was meaning to me returning.
Michelle and I were friends in college. We shared a love for Spanish and a major in Communications, not just our own verbal communication, but the actual study of Communication Disorders. She recently reminded me that we would sit side by side and write notes without moving the page because she is right handed and I am left. That is such a symbolic image of how we have worked together over the last 9 months (now more than two years!). Endless phone calls, emails, texts, and many prayers. This ministry has gone from being a vision to dozens of conferences and one book printed in both English and Spanish. Not translated. Written. (2nd book to be out in September 2015!)
We are the embodiment of this ministry. Sisters who share our Common Threads daily as we work on this ministry. We have cried, laughed, and sat in awe as God has worked through us to make this ministry work.
I had the awesome blessing of being a part of the first bilingual conference in Denver, Colorado, and I think I went away feeling more blessed than anyone as it was a day where my two worlds collided for just a brief moment in time.
I know that there is so much more that God has planned for Iron Rose Sister Ministries and I pray that you decide to become a prayer partner with us.