What's A Woman's Role?

I'm very confused. In my heart I honestly feel and believe that women can be called to serve the Lord, and not only by being silent and having babies. Last night I was reading the bible, and what I read really troubled me.

1 Timothy 2:9-15

I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

That part I totally understand, the only question from that is should little girls never have braided hair? I understand that we need to focus far more on the way we are inside than our outside appearance, but is it actually a sin to braid someone's hair? =S

The next part is what is really concerning to me:

A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.

Does that mean that a woman should never ask questions? Am I sinning right now by even asking this? How do we learn if we do not question what we learn, because there ARE people who preach the gospel but they twist it and turn it into lies, they take it out of context and it's no longer God's truth. As a new Christian and a young woman, I haven't been taught by my parents, I don't have a husband to ask questions to, so naturally I do want to ask questions to my pastor and other people at my church. Not because I'm debating or arguing the truth, but because I feel like I need to ask questions to LEARN the truth. Also, I know a female pastor who is really wonderful. Should females never become pastors? She has helped many people and is better at explaining God's truth than many of the male pastors I've met. Is God not truly calling her to be a pastor? Also, is it wrong of females to teach at all, such as public school teachers? I've had some great teachers who are women. They know as much as men do and are able to teach just as well. I'm really confused and I don't understand. If women should never be in positions of authority over men, does that mean women should never have jobs outside of the home? Should they never become police officers, or doctors, or anything like that? I feel like there's so much more for me to do than to stay at home all of my life. I want to serve Jesus, I want to work hard and to travel. My heart is so troubled by this.

The last part I have some questions about is this:

But women will be saved through childbearing-if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

Wait a sec now -- I thought people were saved through faith. Period. So even if a woman never gives birth to a child, if she has faith in the Lord she is still saved. Isn't she?? Also, Paul says it is good for people never to marry, if they are able to control their sexual desires. I never plan to marry or have babies. I want to serve the Lord in other ways. But by doing that, am I actually going against the will of God??

I hope someone can answer these questions. My heart hurts so much lately, I feel sick inside, not understanding this and wanting to do what's good, while at the same time inside of me I feel like God is telling me that I can be more than just a silent housewife. Please help.