I am enjoying a warm health nut muffin,
which my mom sent me the ingredients for to bake here.
Amazing how simple blessings come.
And I have yet three more to share.
One blessing is actually a mix of blessings rolled into one,
all situated in the
Thankfully I was able to complete my flight from SoCal to blustery
where I met some girls in
We safely made our journey to
where shrieks and laughter filled the foyer of the chapel at
as we embraced others from
and for me that included my roommate, Kimber (blessing number two).
Sitting in a beautiful chapel.
I look to my left and to my right and see friends. family. usp.
Shhhshing only lasted for those few minutes we were causing a noticeable raucous,
because for the whole weekend we talked and laughed and reminisced.
And enjoyed tea.
Tea. Tea. Tea.
Somehow I like tea a whole lot more when I am sharing it with a friend.
Sugar and company: two necessary ingredients to a good, warm cup of tea.
To give you a picture of how much tea I had, one day I calculated 40oz,
all of which held the two ingredients so it was worthy!
The fam girls reunite.
The snow is blowing.
Hot steamy roobios tea ties the two as one.
Like a highlighted night in
Both seeped in love.
Love reunited.
While we were at
I was introduced once again to this idea of sustainability and development (ie. Long term commitment to using the assets that a community already has to empower them (not “save” them)).
This idea is versus relief, which is a short-term aid that does good for extreme situations, but which can also cause dependency if it lasts too long!
I am so interested in this idea. it has really made me wonder what mindset short-term missions people are going with, and what I went with, and how/ if I will return.
The overall community of people there were so encouraging.
Recycling was encouraged!
Plastic mugs were distributed for use during the conference (and beyond)!
Social justice issues were addressed.
Eclectic-dread wearing-artistic-creative-hippies.
And there was tea time!
And snow!!
Quaint. Classic. Victorian.
The
White. Blustery. Pure.
In wintertime.
Mittens. Long johns. Earmuffs.
Warmth within the cold.
[culture shock phase one: honeymoon: some may say]
When the theme of the conference was addressed, kimber glanced over at me…
…. It was from John 15: abide.
This verse pops up everywhere it seems.
John 15:5 “Apart from Me you can do nothing.”
This seems to be where I come back to often.
It has been so hard for me to combine the two worldviews as one, and integrate the faith is shown through action while keeping with saved by grace.
But as one speaker pointed out, God was the first Developer and Sustainer!!
SO, we must love because we were loved,
We must promote reconciliation because were reconciled to God through Jesus,
And therefore because peace, reconciliation, and love were shown to us that must be the reason we [i] do these things also.
God, may I act out of faith and assurance in my salvation!!
as we abide in Christ
we are part of the same Vine
and have the same Gardener.
Coming back to CBU after the
Frustrations about no recycling and no community and wanting it to be like Calvin or with USP was paralyzing at times. No one seemed to understand. Or care.
But now I come to blessing number three.
Today I biked to
Aside from the blessing of biking through my community and waving to
I walked in and was greeted warmly.
And then met Mary Jo.
Mary Jo invited me to sit with her, passed me a mint, and introduced me to all her friends. People asked her who I was and she went out of her way to introduce me.
I was glowing I am sure.
I was pleased as a bee.
Grinning from ear to ear.
Overwhelmed by the blessing of community. [In my community too]
Then we talked about GEMS, a young girls program and I start next Tuesday.
I am going to dinner at her house the night before.
And the young adult leader invited me over anytime, and told me about Tuesday night Bible study with college students.
We had lunch after and I talked with the pastor, who remembered my name after!!
It was wonderful.
The ride back I was ecstatic with blessings.
It’s amazing how simple blessings come.
And light up a life!
I continue to live in the tension.
The tension of listening to my mind and my heart.
The tension of wanting to be so many places and being here.
The tension of faith and action.
But these blessings seem to make the light at the end of the tunnel feel nearer.
“It’s the Joshua tree's struggle,
That gives it its beauty.”
[the glass house, walls pg 38]
