The End?

It's strange to think that the end of the year is fast approaching, and in fact, is really here already. I know it seems that at the end of every year it just feels like everything went by so fast and I tend to say, "I can't believe it's the end of the year already." This time, I feel like a have a whirlwind of feelings and thoughts about this past year.

In January I started to spend time with my team, most of whom I knew very little about. I moved in with Shae and Josie and spent a lot of time getting to know the rest of the guys. We walked in the snow and a river of ice once to get to the bus stop because we weren't allowed to drive (Mission Term rules restricted us from doing a lot of things that made life easy for us). Our whole class traveled to Mexico City and for a week got to spend time with AIMers and missionaries there.

We had Camp Adventure and were in charge of campers. We attended the class of 2007's graduation, a preview of where we'd be in 2 years. Then we hit the road for the Tulsa Workshop and visiting other congregations in Arlington and Oklahoma. Teams then split up and went all across Texas and other states for a week on our own working with a church. Our team went to Montgomery, Alabama.

When we got back to Texas we had to say goodbye to the friends and family we'd come to know better over the 7 months in Lubbock knowing that we probably wouldn't see most or any of them again until our graduation, 2 years later.

I had a short amount of time at home and then the big move came. I came to a different world, living in Europe. In Italy I've encountered a different way of life than the one I was used to. The people, the food, the language, the customs, the dress, so many things are different. I've traveled to major cities like Rome and Florence. I've been on a mountain and walked past vineyards. I've helped organize parties for the church. I've had a bible study with future-Christian young ladies of the church. I've helped format electronic songs for the church. I've attended language classes and learned the basic rules of the language and that learning a language is a continual process for me.

I've met local non-Christians and hung out with them and felt the rush of excitement at the thought of helping them know Christ.

In November I traveled to London. I got to meet a group of Christians there and was reminded how great the family of God is. I went on to Scotland to meet up with other AIMers and relish the few days spent with them touring Glasgow and Edinburgh.

I've spent time with the mentally disabled.

I've fed the poor.

And I've realized that the end of the year is not an end to anything for me. It's like a page is being turned and what is about to be read is only more intriguing. It's like this past year was a step ladder that will help me climb over a wall and I'm able now to get a peek at what's on the other side.

This pas year has been amazing and truly blessed. God's been working me like a piece of clay, cutting off pieces that don't belong and shaping me into what he wants me to be.

It hasn't been easy this whole time that's for sure. I've been frustrated with myself and with others. I've been disappointed, annoyed, angry. But the growing process sometimes hurts. Knowing that God's got it under control has brought me peace and keeps me going.

And for all the temporary difficult times, there have been times when I was filled to the brim and overflowing with the joy that God provides. God is the Great Provider. And yes, God is good all the time.

Happy New Year!

They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of traveling to the UK with my friend and teammate Shae Baker. We were on our way to the AIM retreat in East Kilbride, Scotland where we would meet up with 14 of our classmates who are serving the Lord in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Zambia (the two from Zambia were a pleasant surprise). Before starting the retreat in Scotland, we decided upon making a stop in London for a day of some sight seeing and a little adventure of our own.

When deciding upon staying London, we knew from the flight details that we'd need a place to sleep for two nights. We were about to look up hotel prices when I remembered that one our classmates had to say in London for a few days before going to her field in Africa. I knew that she met some Christians there and got to hang out with them, so I thought I'd ask her if she could give us a contact so maybe we could meet some of the Christians while we are there, too, and perhaps even stay with them for the two nights. She gladly gave us a name and we went with it.

The name she gave us was one of an ex-AIMer. He was more than happy to help us out with our stay and was so excited to get to meet us. He found us a couple to stay with for the two nights and got off of work so that he could take us around London on the full day that we would be there. At first I was just excited about getting to go to London, but then I started to get really excited about meeting my fellow Christian and the people we'd be staying with. I mean, this is some of my family that I'd never met before! They've lived across an ocean from me all this time and we hadn't known each other before my trip, but they were my family, bonded by the strongest, purest blood of all-the blood of Christ. Hearing that they were excited to meet me, made me very excited to meet them.

We arrived late Tuesday night, but Pete waited for us at the airport (after much delay) and took us to Craig and Crystal's home outside of London. We were much later than anticipated, but Crystal (26) and Craig (25) waited up to meet us. She was so sweet and had saved leftovers for us to eat (which made me very happy because we were very hungry). We talked for a little bit before letting her get to bed and us to our dinner and sleep.

The next day was wonderful because Pete picked us up early and we went around London. And although seeing the sights was definitely fun, it was only half the fun. We didn't stay out all day because we had made plans to get back to the suburb before dinner to eat with Crystal and then head to Wednesday night study. While we were too late to make it to dinner BEFORE study, we made it back to the town in time for Wednesday night study at a Christian's home.

We had been told by Pete that everyone was excited to meet us and when we walked in I felt automatically in place and very welcomed. I greeted the 8 new faces (Pete, Crystal, and Craig made it a 11 person small group), grabbed a spot on the couch, and soaked in the goodness of an open, searching, loving, humble, sincere, group of adults discussing the challenges they face and how Christ would have us face them. The discussion was great, the leader did very well, and it was obvious that when we had already gone past time, they all wanted to keep going talking about scripture and Christ living in us. It was awesome! By the end of the discussion, I was fighting back tears because being in a group of English speaking, hungry for God's word people had been an experience I haven't had in half a year. It felt soooo good.

When we concluded the study, there was no pause between that and just talking about plans for the week, asking questions about us, us asking questions about them, the host offering beverages and bringing out the snacks, and just easy-flowing, laid-back, talk amongst ourselves. We had two other households offer to have us stay with them When we come back again to visit...they kept stressing how they wanted us back and it was a shame we had to leave so soon.

After leaving from the study we headed back to Crystal and Craig's place for dinner. Five of us gathered in their little kitchen and had some more good conversation and fellowship. I just kept feeling so blessed to have that family there who would just open up their home to us, feed us, and have this bond with us. A few hours later we had to call it a night and the next morning Shae and I left for Scotland.

I had told Craig and Crystal that last night that we were really grateful for their hospitality and blessed by the small group. I told them that if it had been a non-Christian in my place, he or she would have been shown a good example of what Christians are because of the love they showed, the unity of the group, and the sincerity of interest in God's word.

I love meeting family across the world! This world is big, but the family stretches far and wide.