Homesick

Being away from home definitely has some perks, such as the freedom to follow your own schedule and not check in with people ALL the time. At college I've enjoyed these freedoms so far quite a bit, however, homesickness has definitely caught up with me the last week that I've been here.

Honestly, I was starting to wonder how I was going to make it until fall break to go home, or see my family. Sure, I get to talk to them on the phone whenever I want basically, but it's not quite the same not getting to be with them.  I miss hugs from home and joking with my family and just being crazy with them.

My homesickness had caught up with me hardcore, and I was feeling kind of depressed and lonely, but I didn't really want to tell anyone about it. Sunday night I called my parents and was talking with them on speaker phone, and my mom asked me if I was okay because I seemed kind of down. Of course, I said I was fine- because I would feel bad if I made them come get me- (its around a 5.5-6 hr drive from home). I was crying while on the phone with them because I realized just how much I missed  them, when my mom asked me if it would be okay if her and my dad come visit me this weekend. I was SO excited (and still am).

I find it amazing how God works in our lives, and mine especially, and provides for his children. Although, I wouldn't have asked for my parents to come, God knew exactly what I needed. His prompting of my parents to come visit me reassured me that He knows exactly what I'm going through and that I am always on his mind. I'm so excited for this weekend now. God is so awesome.

More of You and Less of Me

Lately I've discovered that the more I focus on God, the more I enjoy my days. The past two nights I've tried to submerge myself into God; just getting to be alone with him, praying, singing, and reading His word. Complete peace (shalom) has been my immediate reward from our time spent together, however, today I realized that coupled with a little more sleep, getting to spend time with my creator drastically improves my outlook on life in general.

Today I woke up happy, and my day just got better from there. My RA returned back to college, which I discovered upon walking out my door to the school post office, then I got to pick up a package my parents had sent when I got to the post office, and then later I finally got a job after having searched for one since school started almost a month ago.

The more of my life I let God have control of, the less stress I had to deal with, and the more He blesses my life. Everything comes in His time, you just have to trust that He will come through.

I can play the background

This song has really been speaking to me lately, so I thought I'd share it with you.

Praise

Its always been a goal of mine to learn to play guitar, so recently I've started practicing, trying to pick it up. Its going alright so far. My finger tips are numb, but it feels good being able to praise God in another way. I'm still slow and my fingers are not fully trained so they're clumsy, but I'm improving and someday I hope to play well.

Where are You calling me?

This post is also in my blog: Expanded written editions of my adventures, but I thought I would share it on here as well, as it is something that is going on in my life right now...

Yesterday I was in chapel at college and they were talking about available short term missions that students can go on. One of them was to Figi, teaching, and witnessing to women that have been rescued from sex slavery.

I have been wondering where God has been calling me to missions, but yesterday I felt a tug on my heart when Figi and the mission to there was introduced. It was kind of weird because recently I had been wondering how I could get involved with helping people out of slavery/human trafficking and witnessing to those that were rescued, and then when the trip was introduced, it was one of the main focuses... For now, I'm trying to discern whether it was God calling me there, and I'm really hoping that he was.

My  experience made me reflect on my mission trip to Western Samoa in 2010. I am not sure that I was really called to go on that trip, however, God definitely used that trip in awesome ways to transform and shape my life. I think God used that trip, not only to draw me closer to Him, but also to open up my heart to the people of the South Pacific, and show me that missions was where he wanted me.
For now I'll be praying about the Figi trip, and if you're reading this, please pray for me as well that God will make it clear to me what he wants with my life.

Star Gazing

Last night I went out stargazing by myself just to get away from everything and talk to God. After pouring out my heart and just laying back gazing at the stars in silence I noticed that the stars directly above me seemed to form the shape of a heart. I'm not sure if it was a specific constellation or anything, but it was special to me because I could see God's love for me in that moment. I think it is really amazing how God can always find a way to talk to our hearts in our circumstances if we are willing to listen.