Welcome! Well, the new class is here and are getting acclimated to life at McLean Bible Church. We’ll be doing a series of blogs to help you better get to know the Future Leader Class of 2010. Today we’re highlighting Natalie Boone, who works with Kid’s Quest at the Loudoun Campus

Like so many college graduates, I had absolutely no clue where I was headed after college. Some of my professors pushed a MBA program; some people encouraged me to seek a “secure” 9:00-5:00 job; others (my favorites) encouraged me to pursue something totally opposite of what I spent $50,000 to go to school for. I knew I didn’t feel ready for the whole 9:00-5:00 thing yet, but I still didn’t know what else there was. I had inklings, but nothing resolute. At 2:00 am one morning, I filled out an application to work as a nanny, really out of boredom, and to see if I had any interesting bites. Preferred Cities: NYC, Chicago, Prague, Los Angeles. (If you can’t tell, this was a sporadic endeavor in all aspects)

Or so I thought it was sporadic. I got a bite from the Cordova family in DC. I pretty much discarded the thought of moving to a place I had visited on vacation when I was a kid. All I could remember about D.C. was seeing pictures of myself wearing tacky early 90s style clothes in front of every possible memorial, with Ked sneakers and a snaggle-tooth smile. No thanks. I’m not even into politics. Little did I know the Lord would place this family on my heart and despite my own stubbornness, would call me to be a nanny, and be a nanny in DC.

So after weeks of panic-praying for the “why,” I thought I pretty much figured out why the Lord wanted me here: my senior year of college I had become extremely passionate about art therapy, and George Washington University has an amazing art therapy graduate program. A-ha! I would work as a nanny for a bit, get some intro classes under my belt, get used to the area, and eventually, pursue my masters. I find it humorous (only in retrospect I might add) when people say God can “shut doors.” He didn’t “shut” any doors for me – he slammed them. Hard. Almost every door for art therapy, led me to another closet. Bummer. I was a college graduate, who after graduating with honors at the top of her class, had become a nanny (which again in retrospect was the best thing that ever happened to my walk thus far in life).

As soon as I moved here in August 2008, I got plugged into Frontline, joined a small group, and had 8-10 precious women praying for my next step in life. Randomly, a friend called me inauguration weekend to tell me about an announcement she had heard at Frontline Arlington. She told me a little bit about the program and said I should apply. I was flattered to even be considered a “future leader” to her, but was pretty sure that wasn’t my call. But after that, I couldn’t stop thinking about the program. The Holy Spirit let it consume my thoughts. I began to fear that if I could use art therapy restore someone’s life, but could not lead them to Christ’s true restoration, I would labor in vain.

I committed to praying through the process to see where the Lord wanted me to go. I didn’t feel qualified to be in ministry. I went to a secular school and my personal baggage left a lot to be desired. Thankfully, the Lord had a plan for me! Perhaps one day that plan will include an art therapy ministry, perhaps not. Either way, I know the Future Leaders Program is exactly where God intended me to be when I haphazardly applied to be a nanny. I find such peace when He quietly reminds me, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways” Isaiah 55:8 NASB