By Tessa Littlejohn,
Contributing Writer
Stacey had a great childhood, growing up on a farm in Saskatchewan surrounded by her close knit, Christian family. From as early as she can remember Stacey believed in and loved the Lord. Fast forward a few years and Stacey was Alberta bound heading to Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute in Camrose. As part of her program of studies she spent a week in Edmonton and then a week in Vancouver working with the homeless population of those cities. It was there she discovered her purpose. She recalls, walking down the street, surrounded by men and women addicted, mentally ill and alone and felt her heart bursting with God’s love for them. At the end of the week in Vancouver, Stacey was overcome with emotion and cried, not wanting to leave. She realized this was God’s call on her life and that God had given her a heart of compassion for those who are going through hard things like homelessness, addiction or incarceration. She says, “I feel so honoured when someone who has been hurt and is in a tough place opens up and tells me their story and allows me into their life. It is such a privilege.”
In 2009 Stacey moved to Calgary to attend Rocky Mountain College and around that time began volunteering at the Mustard Seed. Volunteering turned into seven years working there. Stacey loved her job and those she had the privilege of walking alongside but it wasn’t always easy and she found herself dealing with difficult situations at work, and in life and reeling from the deaths of people close to her. Overwhelmed and burnt out Stacey realized she needed to take a breather and take time to process, grieve and heal. Through the guidance of her counsellor and doctor it was recommended that She take a four month stress leave. However, things did not go as planned. Instead of having a stress free time Stacey had difficulty in accessing insurance for her leave and quickly burned through her savings. Stacey found herself in a position of wondering where her next meal, rent, or other expenses would come from. It was a very hard time but looking back she can see how God was working and was so faithful. Stacey would pray about her worries, about rent and find an anonymous gift of cash. She would pray about her next meal and someone would invite her for dinner. During this time Stacey truly learned to understand what it meant for God to provide her everyday needs.
Through the help of her parents and other loved ones Stacey was able to deal with the past and to move toward the future by pursuing her Counseling designation to which is so beyond grateful for the support. It also gave her time to devote to her relationship with God and volunteering. She got into the habit of spending extended time with God each day and it became such a part of her that now she craves that time and can’t go without it. She also began working part time cleaning houses and works part time as the administrative assistant in Compassionate Ministries at Centre Street Church.
She says that going through that time gave her an even greater understanding and compassion for others. She knows what it’s like to wonder how you will pay rent, where your next meal will come from and how incredibly important it is to have a supportive network to help you in tough times.
It was also in that year that Stacey returned to CSC and reconnected with her former professor from RMC Pastor Wayne Smele who she describes as, “My dad away from home.” Also, Pastor Brad Friesen really poured into her life offering her encouragement and helping her explore who God created her to be through ‘The School of Identity’. Looking back Stacey can see how God was caring not only for her physical needs but also spiritual and emotional by putting the right people in her path at the right time.
Stacey completed her exam to become a counsellor and has opened her own practice with her business partner called Restore Counselling. Her years in the desert have come to an end but she continues to rely on God’s timing and direction.
Stacey says, “This time period was probably one of the most difficult times in my life. It was hard processing painful experiences, deaths, and the struggles of life.” Stacey goes on to say, “I can’t imagine my life without Christ. This past year while on stress leave, I have seen God provide in the most incredible ways and my faith has exploded. I now have an active and real relationship with Jesus. My relationship with Christ drives all I do, my identity, where I work, etc.”
It is never easy to go through a time of tearing down and stripping away but looking back she can see how God was acting to clear things out of the way, force her to lean on him and grow deeper in her faith and now is building something new. Stacey describes it as amazing to “watch God direct my steps and lead me ALWAYS, even when it didn’t make any sense.”
God has been faithful and it will be exciting to see what He has in store next for Stacey’s journey!