…how God will work in someone’s life. This morning, I had breakfast with one of the guys from the youth group that I worked with for two summers (Side note: The relationships that I continue to have with those guys and girls have been such a blessing in my life. I highly recommend long-term friendships with people of all ages). Recently, he went on a short-term mission trip to the Ukraine to teach kids about Jesus. And, like so many people that choose to give their time serving God and others, he came back a changed person: different perspectives, new wisdom, different passions. There are two major things that I gained from our time together. First, pour yourself into the lives of others, wait for God to work in unexpected ways, and then be prepared to walk alongside them on the new pathways that God creates. Second, expose yourself to new experiences, because you never know how God will use those experiences to change your life. Just thoughts…take ‘em or leave ‘em.
Relaxing in Houston
Time with the parents is always wonderful. Crazy to think that these are some of my last days at home for a long time. I’m getting more and more excited about Costa Rica, while at the same time feeling sad about leaving family and friends. Torn between two worlds. Maybe that is how I should feel spiritually more often than I do.
Fishing, Swimming, and Sweating
This past week has been a doozy. After packing up all my stuff in Abilene, I left the town of few trees permanently last Friday. My first destination was Rockport, Texas, where our team was having a fishing fund-raiser. After 6.5 hours of driving and 5 hours of sleep, I spent 9 hours fishing with my dad, two men from my home church, and a guide/preacher. Since I had to stay for the shrimp boil, I didn’t leave for Houston until seven that evening. So, after another 3 hours of driving and 6 hours of sleep, I participated in my first (and hopefully not last) triathlon. While the swimming portion absolutely humbled me, the bike and run went surprisingly well. What made the whole experience enjoyable, though, was joining Nick for the event and having my mom and his family there to cheer us on. Then, after breaking my personal record for post-church socializing (3 hours), I caught some shut-eye and headed up to good ol’ Camp of the Hills for a week of sweaty manual labor, early morning running, and catching up with many dear friends. Throughout the week, I discovered that COTH is still one of the best places in the world even when you are not a counselor. Maybe that is why the volunteer groups keep coming back year after year. And now life is going to be filled with preparations for language school and Lima – the “wind down” is in full swing. That is what is going on in my life, if you cared to know. Then again, if you didn’t care, you wouldn’t still be reading. Which brings me to my last point. Just so I know who is dropping by the blog, leave a brief message from time to time if you don’t mind. The notes that have been left thus far have been great to read. God bless you all!
Gone
After four years, my time in Abilene has come to an end. With my car packed, I drove away from Abilene on Friday, knowing that I wouldn’t live there again for a long time (if ever). My last week in this windy, West Texas town was filled with good-byes, all of which reminded me of the wonderful relationships that God has blessed me with during my years of graduate school and mission training. These relationships will always be the living reminder of these years in my life. The good-byes were filled with laughter, great conversations, and prayer. I can only hope that I have been as much of a blessing to these friends as they have been to me.
And now I continue on the journey of life that God has set before me; closing one chapter and opening the next. These periods of transition has always been hard for me. The comfortable, familiar patterns of life are difficult to give up, or better, to mold to new circumstances. This has probably been largely due to my insistence on self-reliance in new situations. So here’s to hoping that the next few months and years of my life will be characterized by trust in God, constantly leaning on His wisdom and guidance. Pray for me.
Putting Me In My Place
God has been teaching me lots about my own limitations these days. While it has always been a comforting thought that my actions and words were capable of bringing about major changes in the world, God has continually been teaching me that it is primarily through the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of people, the church, and the world that the real changes occur. So, at the same time, God has been exposing my pride and revealing his power. Good things, but hard.
