Ch. 1: The Move

As I changed the Time Zone on my Mac, it hit me: I LIVE in Atlanta now. My father and I arrived Friday night after 4 days and 2,500 miles. I’ll tell you what; the drive across the country is not a short one!

On the first day we stopped at the Grand Canyon, and we both stood in awe for hours. I do not know how anyone can look at something as beautiful and massive as the Grand Canyon and not respond with praise to the one who created us. It was one of the most astounding things I have ever seen.

On the second day we did nothing but drive…and drive…and drive. We covered almost 900 miles in one day. I know now that was just unfair to do to another person. We had a “hard” day to say the least.

Day three we made it to the International House of Prayer, Kansas City. This was my favorite stop of the entire trip—and I think my father would say the same thing. We got there just in time for Misty Edwards.  (I may or may not have planned it that way.) It honestly felt like all time stood still the moment we entered The Prayer Room. Two and a half hours later, and completely refreshed, we were back on the road.

And on day four we finally made it to Atlanta. You know how marathon runners will tell you that the last few miles of the race feel like nothing—as if you are running off of pure adrenaline at that point? Well that is how the last four hours felt. Once we left Nashville—which is one of the coolest cities I have ever been in—the drive flew by, and was so exciting. By the time we got into Atlanta, I was ecstatic.

** I have to pause here for a moment to tell you about my emotional process: I have been so surprised/impressed with my heart through this whole journey. When I first decided to drive out to Atlanta, I had this picture of myself crying until we reached the Grand Canyon. And I did nothing of the sort. I was incredibly prepared for this new chapter in my life to begin. Even as I write this, I miss you all so deeply, but am not sad that I left. I have such hope that this was part of God’s plan for my life.  

About 5 months ago, the director of PIHOP, Cheryl, said that she saw this next season of my life as God calling me into the desert where He was going to be intimately present, and I would come back a changed person. I have held on to that word/promise/prophecy with all the trust I contain.

One morning I was praying at PIHOP, and I so clearly heard Hosea 2: 14-16:

"Therefore, behold, I will allure her, And bring her into the wilderness, And speak tenderly to her.   I will give her back her vineyards, And the valley of Achor for a door of hope; And she will respond there, As in the days of her youth, And as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.  It will be in that day," says Yahweh, "That you will call me 'my husband,' And no longer call me 'my master.'

I felt like God was speaking these words over me—like He was promising me that my trip to Atlanta would be like this. Two days later, Cara, one of the girls in my prayer group, prayed the same words over me. This holds so much meaning for me because I have experienced so much loss over the last year. So many things have changed in my life over the last year that I have had no control over. And I am left back at square one—a place I honestly never thought I would see again. The promise of restoration in the verse above is what I am holding on to. I believe that my time in the wilderness (and if you only saw where I lived you too would call it wilderness) will yield back the vineyards I have lost, and then some.

…Like I said, I have high hopes for the next 2-years.

Saturday morning dad and I drove about an hour to IHOP Atlanta (are you starting to see a theme here?). It was so peaceful. I look forward to the hours I will spend in those chairs, just sitting. However, it is an hour away. I am finding out that when people say ‘Atlanta’ they do not actually mean Atlanta. Like the people who call The Antelope Valley, ‘Los Angeles.’ So I will probably spend more time streaming the KC Prayer Room then I will actually at IHOP Atlanta…in Lawrenceville.

As of right now, I am sitting on the floor of my room because my furniture does not arrive until tomorrow. But I am surrounded by cards and notes from my dearest friends. I feel SO very loved and supported in this new chapter of my life.

Please continue to keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

With SO much love,

Megan Haléh

My new address:  2015 Lake Park Drive SE apt H   Smyrna, GA 30080