New Year... New Life

While I sit here, I am asking myself why I am not curled up in my bed taking a nap... honestly, I can't find a good answer. I am currently serving as an NSI mentor for the spring session here at SNU, and we have been constantly doing things for the past two days. So now that I have free time, I am taking advantage of it by not sleeping... oh no... I'm doing the good 'ol American thing... I'm spending my time on the Internet and blogging.

I've come to realize that most people who blog talk about politics, social issues, the development of their children, or just about lofty ideas or questions. I on the other hand, because I lack the joy of having children (which is GREAT right now... too early in life for that), I just get kind of frustrated with politics these days, I would rather DO something about social issues than type out and analyze them, and I have come to realize that there isn't a lot of interesting things going on upstairs.... I just kind of vent and say whatever comes to mind.

I don't know if anyone really reads this other than my mom and Poppy, but I'm completely fine with it! To be honest, I really don't think that many people would really want to know about an event that happened to me while waking up this morning, or some other random thing that has happened in my life. Only the significant matters of my life are worth hearing, right? And even those are questionable about their attractiveness to others.

What I'm really driving at right now is what is happening within me. This new year has brought several new experiences into my life. I have spent wonderful days with my parents, grandparents, my best friend, some old friends, and even some new friends! I have spent 16 hours outside of Chick-fil-a.... in the rain, sleet, and snow... so that I might get 52 free meals this year! (I was #24 in line by the way) So as you can see, I have done a lot, but most importantly... I have dedicated my summer to a wonderful opportunity that God has given me. When most people hear that I am going to New Zealand, they get jealous and I even get jealous of myself... and I never knew the latter could happen, but it is.... trust me.

I am ecstatic that I get to go minister to others, but I still have some fears about how it will all work out. I get told that I worry too much, and that would be an understatement, I believe. I'm working on that, and God has allowed me to experience things that have put me to that test. I constantly pray for my heart to be shaped in a way that would allow me to be used by God- even when I feel like I can't go on. What amazes me the most and what gives me hope for my future is hearing about all the times I have been used when I thought I was useless.

I have had several conversations with people in my present and past that have allowed me to catch a glimpse of how God has used me even when I didn't know anything was happening. Remembering those conversations give me goosebumps! I could sit here and write about all the things that have been said about this matter, but it would not be the full story, and my lack of eloquence in writing my thoughts would by no means do justice for the praise that should be given to God. I know he looks at our efforts, so my mediocre sentences will have to suffice. I may sound like a broken record, but despite all the trials I have and continue to go through, I have encountered God in a very real way, and I wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world.

I know this next semester will bring me more trials and tribulations, but with God by my side- amazing things will happen. My heart is willing. It is because of this that I can say I am thrilled to see what God is going to do this summer in an island off the coast of Australia.

I would like to ask you. If you are reading this and are willing, will you join me in prayer for this trip? I feel like the is not only an opportunity for me, but also for those around me to get involved in something God is going to do. While I will be there physically... you can be there in your heart. Your prayers will help me get through the days that I wake up mentally and physically exhausted. Your prayers to God will be heard. I feel like prayer is overlooked, and for a bad reason. You may not know it, but your prayer might be exactly what is needed in a moment of desperation. I have to fly across an ocean, be in a different country, interact with people I don't know, eat different foods.... the list continues... and with all those things comes risk, a risk that your simple prayer might protect me through.

I feel as though my heart is already there... the hardest part night now is just waiting.