School Video

I probably could have posted this before leaving for outreach, but here's the school video Sonya and Jeff (both Justice students) put together!  Don't mind the long 'music video' at the end, they're just goofy.  At 6:20 we're doing a tim tam slam, forgot what it's like to have hair on that side of my head! haha

Gradumacation...

It's strange to be saying the phrase 'I'm graduating tomorrow' again... seems like I was saying that not too long ago. At the same time, I feel like 20 years has passed since I finished high school. I entered life and getting to know my Father even deeper. I'm not the same person I was in June. I'm not even the same person I was in September, or December, or even a week ago when I left Laos and Thailand. Papa is always, continuously doing this work in me and the way He teaches me is so beautiful. I don't think I've ever learned so much in such a short amount of time!

I don't really know what I want to do with the rest of my life. Well, I have the plan I'd like, but I know that my Father's plan is a hundred times better than anything I could dream up. I know that wherever I end up, I'll be walking with my Abba and that's the best thing about life. I can mess up and I can make the wrong decision, I can make the right decision and do everything perfectly and no matter what, He loves me and I am a daughter of the most high King. That's the only thing about life that really makes sense to me all the time and it's the one thing I know I can hold onto always and in any situation; that I am a daughter and He is where I find my value and my worth.

To sum up the past couple months and all the cool stuff God's been pouring out, He is so good and He is my Father. I feel like everything comes back to who He is and I just can't get past how good He is. If that was the only thing I learned in my life, that would be enough. He is more than enough.

My God, my Father, He's pretty rad. He's pretty darn big and He's got a whole lot of love.

Bittersweet

I am back in Oxford!! It feels like home and I slept in a bed that I know is clean (!!!) for the first time in about 7 weeks! There's something about coming back to a place you've lived, and just feeling the comfort of familiarity. I even felt it a bit in Laos, when we returned to Luang Prabang and Vientiane and stayed in the same guesthouses. I think it's a feeling you can get anywhere.

I'm learning home is more about community than location. When you're with people you know and trust and spend time with, you're home. That's what makes you miss certain places; the people that are there, or that you associate with the place. Here was my fellow students, Laos is my team and all the people we met, CT is my family and the people I've grown up with. Laos was home for a long time, no matter where we went. I have a family of 6 that have grown close to my heart and have seen some of the biggest growth in my own life. I have one brother who is still in Asia and the last thing he said to me was 'I'll see you again!' I know I'll have a home in Laos/Thailand again, my Father's spoken so much to my heart about that and I can't wait to see what that family will look like!

As happy as I am to be back, and excited to go home in March, a big part of my heart was left in Laos and Thailand. I'm learning to be back and live in western-ish culture and it's good. I can't wait to share stories with everyone and see familiar faces back in the US of A. If you keep checking up, I'll probably post some stories, or at least a basic something about what we did on outreach. If I didn't send you a letter before I left, email me your address and I will be sure to send you an update letter!

Thanks so much for all your prayers!! My team and I were so incredibly blessed. God is good!