GOAL MET!!! Sweetness.

Well! That's it then; goal accomplished.  Thanks so much to all who gave!

This has been a great ride so far, and I don't think I can quite describe how excited I am.  (Both because I'm very excited, but also because I woke up at 11pm and have been driving all night to make it here to Hattiesburg!)

Next stops: New Orleans, Philidelphia, Frankfort, Budapest, then a bus to Romania!

I can't wait to get a chance to talk in-person with Ken Tucker, the music missionary who also serves as our main contact there.  This is so amazing!

PS:
If you had it in your mind to give to this trip and still want to, feel free to do so here or through USM XA.  Any money over my original goal will be used for missions.

GOAL [almost] MADE!!!

Wow!!! I've pretty much made the goal! WOW! Praise God! This is so amazing! Thanks to Biker Church HSV and the Jorgensens for inviting me down! I'm so amazed!

(More exclamation points are needed!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Now off to sleep and wake up at 11:30pm tonight for a drive back to Hattiesburg before the sun comes out again!

GoFundMe

Give thanks!

Just a few things I have to be thankful for this year:

Scholastically:

• I had an entire YEAR's worth of free doctoral level classes at a school of music with high standards: a $14,448 value!!!!
• I got paid a stipend.
• I've learned how a choir can use a tuning fork instead of a piano.  HUGE.
• I've built relationships with colleagues and with Dr. Gregory Fuller which will no doubt last a lifetime.
• These same relationships will provide me with first-class recommendations.

Missions:

• I've had the opportunity to meet Matt McMurrin's parents who were the first I've ever heard of who essentially have the job that I want: musical missionary.
• Matt himself has provided me with encouragement and great wisdom about future plans.
• Karis Tucker and her parents have also been role models to me in this area. Before coming, I didn't know ANYONE who had EVER considered being a musical missionary.  Now I know two separate families!
• Ken, Karis's dad is our main contact point as I travel with Chorale to Romania.  Not only do I get to network with him, but I will also get a little on-the-job observations.  SWEET!
• If I hadn't come to USM, I would have never met Dr. Alvarez or had the opportunity to go to Costa Rica this summer!  This is something that I've tried to work out on my own for the last three or more years and only by coming here has that door opened up!!!!

Spiritually:

• I enjoyed participating in worship at a church of the denomination of my youth.
• I met an awesome, 9-member family which is "living on faith" and submitting to God's leadership in ways most people don't even ask about...
• Debbie Harper (the mom of that family) is also earning her doctorate and provided me with a WEALTH of information on the relationship between God, career, and family.
• I had amazing interactions with USM Chi Alpha and especially Chris Buckle who has helped me grow spiritually in areas of my life that have shows zero growth before.

In short... I have NO doubt that this has been one of the best years of my life and the most blessing-filled as well!!!!

Post Script...

Please don't feel sad if I forgot and left you off the list.

Once, during my 6th grade math class, I was really excited about school and life and starting being thankful out loud.  "My english teacher is the bomb because... and my social studies teacher is awesome because... and my math teacher..."

It was at that moment my mind went completely blank to my utter embarrassment.  As I went to my next class, my friends were telling me that Mrs. Green was in tears!  Now might be an appropriate time to mention that she was also pregnant....

All that said.  Just because I didn't mention you here doesn't mean I'm not thankful for you, too.  My brain is just only so big.... :) 

Fall 2013

Friends and Family,

I'm not sure whether to tell you that I have good news or bad news.  On the surface this appears to be bad news, but on the other hand I honestly believe that anytime my "normal" is shaken up I feel closer to God.

The bad news is that I won't be returning to Hattiesburg as a Doctoral student in the Fall.  I did not pass my second Qualification Exam and my appeal for a third chance was denied.

First of all, as of yet this does not definitively mean that I will no longer be enrolled at USM.  Depending on policy and what doors open up this summer, I might pursue a Masters degree in Choral Conducting since my current Masters is in Music Education.

Secondly, an even more exciting option has opened up (at least within the confines of my mind :) and that is the thought of teaching in Latin America before earning a doctoral degree.  As you know I will be spending June and July in Costa Rica at the University of Costa Rica with the School of Music and with Josh Amiot on a MAPS missions trip.  I have maintained all along that this will be a priceless opportunity for me to network with Latin America choral directors and possibly to find a job somewhere in the tropics.  This would be an AMAZING opportunity if it opens up.

But as always... God's will be done.  I have absolutely no doubt that His hand is in this, and for that reason I am content--even in my disappointment--to know that He still is and will always be in charge.

All that said, I would greatly appreciate your prayers as I move forward and make decision about the coming year.  I am glad there are so many decisions to be made and eager to follow Gods will as I make them.

Yours,

Jason

--

Jason Scott Vawter

Comments Welcome!

I'm so excited about the wonderful things God has been doing in my life lately.  As for money for the missions trip, I'm WELL on my way to having it almost completely funded.  WOOT WOOT!  I still have a few people who have told me they will donate and they will probably be coming in soon.  Right now, I believe I have enough to scrape by, which is a HUGE answer to prayer, because that's really all I've wanted to do.

In other news, I'm weighing some big decisions on what the next school year might hold.  Or better put, some of my professors will be deciding for me what it will hold.  I ask for your prayer in that as Wednesday comes quickly.  Nevertheless I know that God is ultimately in control and I have no doubt that whatever choice is made, His Will ultimately will shine through. I learned a long time ago that...

"Unless the Lord builds the house, it's builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, it's watchmen stand guard in vain.  In vain you rise early and stay up late toiling for food to eat!  For he grants sleep to those he loves."

I am thankful for God's rest.  True peace and relaxing rest is a gift from Him.  I don't build, labor, watch, or toil in vain because I choose to only hold onto those things God allows me to keep.  "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away" nevertheless... rather ALL THE MORE, "blessed be the Name of the Lord!!!!"

Side note: My blog doesn't have a huge readership, but it appears I have a consistent 25 people or so that read each post.  Just want to let you know you're welcome to comment below.  I LOVE encouraging words from friends and family!

Thanks to Harvest Church

Pastor Reynolds and Harvest:

Thank you so much for the generous donation from Harvest Church!  It was much more than I expected and I can tell it truly came from the generous heart of both you and the whole church.  I will miss my church family while I'm away.  I hope you will let those who care to know that I'll be updating my blog (afishymusicmachine.blogspot.com) with information on my missions progress and any other interesting tidbits as I'm living these next few months.  Harvest has been a blessing from God.  I have truly felt the Lord's encouragement through the church family.

                                                                          

Thanks to McKendree UMC

McKendree and Jasper Community:

Thank you so much for all that you've done!  Your generosity is truly overwhelming!  Special thanks to Julia who spearheaded the endeavor! No doubt Tommy and Fred deserve thanks for their contribution of fresh fish.  Thanks to Ron and Bonnie who obviously allowed advertising air-time during Sunday morning services and Wednesday night practices. Thanks to the many choir and church members who invited, cooked, cleaned, and gave money.  I don't deserve this lavish display of love.  I'm so grateful!  I'm going to be doing my best to keep updating this blog so that those who wish to know what I'm up to can have plenty of information. Of course that's mainly to sooth Julia's lovingly deep desire to know more, but others are invited to check in as often as they'd like for fresh missions details. :)

Thank you all again!