Step 4: A Moral Inventory

Do you ever wish you had a step-by-step manual to healing, growing closer to Christ, or applying His atonement to your life?

I am so excited that this is what the new manual Healing Through the Savior does (LDS version of the 12-step addiction recovery program)!

In Step 4, you write down times you have messed up in life and then look for patterns in character weaknesses. When I was on Step 4, I learned that I have a tendency to be willful.

I didn't think this was an issue for me because I tried so hard to learn what Heavenly Father would have me do, and then I did all I could to do it... BUT I worked really hard to do it MY way.

I would see the vision ahead, and move forward, trying so hard to do all that is required to get there, sometimes ignoring people's thoughts and feelings about it... because they were in the way of this important goal.

That is not how Jesus does things. He is patient with us. He works with our hearts... it seems that this makes getting to the final product so much slower until we realize that WE are his final product.

For example, maybe I have a vision of what a devotional should look like, or a family outing, or a school in Mexico, but then there are people who are not cooperating with my plan... they are in the way of this awesome vision I have for how things ought to look.

That is what I have been learning lately. The outcome is not in my hands; it is in God's hands. What IS in my hands is loving God and loving His children, listening, and communicating. We then move towards the vision He shares with each of us in the best way we know how.

Want a Cute Journal?

My daughter Joy is designing super cute notebooks and journals. This is a sampling, but you can find more on her amazon page. She gets SO excited when someone buys one of her journals. She is saving for a ticket to Mexico. If you would like to see a certain theme on a notebook or journal, she would love your idea.

Buy a Journal

A Well of Willfulness

Willfulness is exhausting. It causes me to run faster than I have strength and to try to get others to do things my way.

I am starting to notice more what it feels like in my body. It's a kind of anxiety that starts to creep up from my heart and through to my head and hands. I seek control and I feel frustrated with those around me.

This happened the other day when I was sitting on the couch, trying to talk to my older kids on the phone, while tow of my younger kids would not be quiet. I felt this emotion start to swell up in me and recognized it as willfulness (I wanted to push or to act in a way to relieve my stress and control the situation). But then I recognized my willfulness and I wanted instead to feel as Jesus would feel.

Just this thought of my Savior calmed me down and put peace in my heart again. Then I could feel love for all around me, including for the loud ones. I gently reminded them again to be more quiet.

(Click on the image to see a FB reel about homeschool day at NASA)

A More Open Line

I have noticed that as I have made this effort lately not just to do God's will, but to do it in God's way... I feel a more open line of communication with Him.

• I have had people come into my mind and questions to ask that I hadn't considered before.

• I am getting more clear ideas about our nonprofit structure and priorities.

• I am being more patient with God's timing

• Instead of feeling a need to push, I am being more patient with myself and the people around me.

• I am prioritizing my health and family and trusting Him to also give me time to do the other work He has for me.

The other day, I thought I would ask this sweet couple in Mexico about the possibility of being our first "house parents" when we have a home built for youth. This would mean that they and their two sons would live with these youth and model a healthy family as they take them in and mentor them.

I was embarrassed to ask them because it was not a small thing I was asking, but when I approached them about being house parents in our organization, they both got excited. She said,

"Ever since I was little, I wanted to adopt a bunch of kids someday and teach them and guide them, and now this opportunity is given to us. I know God brought us together for a reason."

That response is no small miracle.

I don't think that is a typical response to such a big ask. I am sure God has been planning for this for a long time.

This couple is a beautiful example to me of having a willing heart, not a willful one.

I also had two people come to mind to ask about being on our Advisory Board because of their leadership and education experience. I felt intimidated to do it, but they were both very kind and willing to do it.

I had someone come to mind as chair of our board of directors. She was also willing.

And I asked my daughter Jessalyn to be the Executive Director. She also agreed and has been organizing us SO well.

And there are people just being inspired and volunteering on their own. Here is a young lady who put on a bake sale for and donated all she made (over $300!) to help us:

I am glad I am learning not to be so willful. God is so much better at doing things than I am.

The Plan

An action plan has also been becoming more clear as we regroup here in Texas. If you can help us get the donations we need to build a home and classroom by next year, we will be offering a 2-3 year program in Mexico for youth ages 15+ to prepare to be successful adults. Youth/young adults in the US are also invited to participate.

We will also offer classes for younger youth in Mexico to prepare them for this program.

Among other things, they will learn to:

• Be guided by God in their choices, break bad habits/addictions, and develop life systems that keep them centered on what they really want in the future as they care for others in the present.

• Find principles in great books, nature, and experiences to learn how to apply what they learn to their lives.

• Speak English, acquire basic skills for college, and will be given the opportunity to attend Pathways online.

• Apply permaculture and entrepreneurship principles to help them grow resources wherever they go.

We now have incredible house parents ready to serve, model healthy families for these youth, and to encourage them in their education.

We have land, programs, and an organization.

What we are missing is the physical home and a few more teachers.

Will you help us build this home to house youth ready to work hard to use their talents to bless the world?

And then could you share it with 10 of your friends who like to help in good causes?

Here is the fundraiser on Facebook if you could share it on social media

Donate

Volunteer Positions

As we are getting organized as a non-profit to prepare for the next phase, we are finding that we need help in several areas. If you have experience in any of these areas, and would like to help, will you email me at karen@findyourpathmission.org?

• Nonprofit Advisor: Someone who can continue to help us learn how to run an organization well

• Advocates: People who speak to groups in their area or to businesses to share how they can be involved in this work

• Join a team: We have an events team, a marketing team, and a school team (in Mexico). We could use more help in the marketing and events teams.

• Book design/publishing: I am finishing the guided journals we will use in our program and will also sell. I could use some help with the interior design inside the books.

• Media: Contacting media outlets to see if they will share our story or create media to help us share

• Accounting: Advising, tracking, and creating reports that share how we are using donor dollars

• Teachers: We need permaculture, entrepreneurship, English, choir, and literature teachers who can live with us during the school year

• Alternative building: Could you come out for a few weeks to help us learn how to build our youth home with alternative building methods?

• Construction: We would love your help in building any of the following: a library, classroom, pavilion, road, ninja warrior course, bat homes, and some treehouses.

• Experiential Design: We would love help designing gardens, classrooms, and the campus to create a welcoming, inspiring place to be

With love,

Karen Bates

P.S. We can't do this without you.

Please consider donating or volunteering.

Each child we reach together matters so much to God.