Far Side of the World

Well, lecture week 12 has been and gone and we are now in our transition week before we leave for outreach.  This week we have been doing a lot of preparing by gathering things we will need to bring, learning dramas, and so one.  I am very glad for lectures to be over now.  I absolutely loved them, but I think that both my brain and my heart are full and they now need to use some of the knowledge and passion that I gained over the past three months.  It’s funny to think that I am here now.  I actually didn’t think that I would make it this far, and now I’m looking at the second half of the school.  Not that I thought that I would bail or go home, but it just seemed like an eternity away.  I feel like I have been doing a lot of reflecting lately.  This is probably because I am preparing to leave the ship for two months.  I have been on crew for over 10 months now.  I have learned so much and been through so much in that time that I feel like I have aged about 5 years since then!  Which also explains to me why I have been feeling so exhausted! 

I have been so blessed during this time.  With support from my family back home and internet access to be able to call them and talk to them, also with friends that pray for me and support me, and I am also very blessed to have Matt in my life.  We have been dating for almost two months now.  We were talking the other day and realized that we have spent a grand total of 26-28 hours apart (minus sleeping of course) in two months!  I love being able to spend so much time together and get to know him in a closer way that wouldn’t be possible at home.  (This is just one example of the intense closeness of living on a ship as a community). 

I read something neat in my bible this morning.  Psalm 93:3-4 in the Message version.

Sea storms are up, God / Sea storms wild and roaring, / Sea storms with thunderous breakers. / Stronger than wild sea storms, / Mightier than sea-storm breakers, / Mighty God rules in High Heaven. 

This passage stuck out to me right away because I live on a ship.  I’ve seen the destruction waves can do.  I’ve seen the power and force they carry.  And I know that there is NOTHING that I could ever do to try to stop it or hold it back.  This passage gives me a little bit of understanding towards the greatness of God.  Its really encouraging to me for outreach actually.  Sometimes I find that outreach seems like this huge mountain to climb and I feel like I am starting the climb out of breath.  I think, in a sence, God likes that because that means that He is going to be glorified.  Because if we try to make it up the mountain by ourselves we wont get past the foothills.  God wants to get us to the top, but He wants to make it happen.  That makes me smile. 

Please please pray for us.  We are spending Sunday night in the Barcelona airport then we are flying to Romania on Monday morning.  When we get to Romania we are not sure how we are going to get to the middle of Bulgaria.  And then the fun starts!  Pray for strength, unity and reliance on God. 

Thank you so much for your support!  You are a blessing to me!  Merry Almost Christmas!