saying things twice for an hour and a half

Oh these days are just getting more and more interesting. Those who grew up in New Bern think it's the most boring place ever but in reality it actually is a very interesting place. Very different people here. It is just a whole different place then the other places I've lived (two other places). I enjoy it here I mean, I won't be here all my life I'm sure but for now it is enjoyable.

Being here makes me realize that I am so glad I have friends that come from different places and have been everywhere. I feel like a fledgling compared to them, I've jumped out of the nest but I'm still in mid-air. I hope to hit the ground in another country one day, but it really is all up to God. I do have preferences as to where I want to go, but I have always stuck by "it's not up to me" because well, it's not.

I'm glad I've given my life to a life of service for the Kingdom.

Peace.

The things that go through the mind late at night

I keep staying up kinda late just lying in bed thinking constantly about the next day or the day I had. The positives, oh but do I criticize myself on the negatives. Well that random thought aside I would like to say that my thinking tonight is not of criticism it is about excitement. Just the way this whole summer is panning out seems to be lesson after lesson.

God is teaching me a lot this summer, already I've had many lessons in leadership. I've never really been a good leader when doing things so I feel like this is my chance that God has given me to prove myself wrong. I have to work tomorrow again and I'm pretty excited about it, I hope I can keep getting excited about it everyday.

Well that does it.
Peace

God swoops down in a time of need

Living in New Bern has put a strain on me financially. This strain has come from weeks of not being paid from my job because of a tax form, but patience pays off, and so does prayer. So my mom calls me today and the first thing she says is "your rich" and I'm thinking...ok I've gotten paid FINALLY, she says, "no thats not it." By this time I'm confused.

Since I went to a community college on a scholarship that paid everything, I got a check back for the room and board money I did not use. Now I'm not going to say the amount, but let's just say it's plenty. So that phone call was a blessing and a prayer answered in my time of need. God truly does provide for those who seek Him and His guidance.

Before this financial crisis, I heard a sermon on how God provides. The speaker used a quote from the Bible that says something to the affect that He has given everything in nature all that it needs to survive, so why wouldn't he provide for us, His children. Then came the crisis and I remembered what the speaker said and I became patient, and finally God swooped down in a time of need.

Thanks God for being awesome.

Peace.

summer so far

So far this summer I have managed to live in someone elses home, land a job, withdraw from a summer course, help with a church, meet more people, all while looking forward to the school year ahead. I am truly keeping my focus on being a missionary, this summer is a stepping stone on the way there. I keep my mind on what I'm doing so that I can say to myself "how is this benefitting my life or anyone elses?" If I have no idea then I feel I am doing something wrong.

I long for the missionary life, not just to experience cool stuff or go different places but to experience the work that God is doing. I want to feel the purity and know the joy everyday in my life. I'm starting to feel it here, in the small town of New Bern. Everytime I earn a smile out of someone or am embraced by true friendship or gratefulness, I feel the joy. It makes me happy, almost to tears when I feel that joy because I know God is in it.

So far has been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, to live away from home, to be around different people, trying to find my way around. Everything has hit me in a very big way and I start to think "this isn't anything compared to what I'll deal with overseas." Then I think about that joy I talked about earlier, I picture the times that I will feel the purest joy ever in new brothers and sisters in Christ.

Summer so far has taught me many things. 1) Don't be scared of new people, 2) Embrace every chance to love deeply, and 3) find the joy and cling to it. Although that was just some..you get the gist of it.

Joy in Christ