Where am I going?

Where am I going? It's not at all that I feel at loss with what to do with my life. Well, at least not for lack of options. There are SO many things I would love to do. I would love to teach in the States. I would love to be a missionary to another country. I would love to go to school again and get another degree in counseling. I would love to work with kids in a non-school related program too. I would love to write. I would love to just be a mom and a wife. I would love to work with youth in a church. I would love to do so much.

But where is God going to take me? The honest truth, my friends, is I don't really know. I hoped that maybe this summer He would just put a place on my heart and I would know where I was going. I think we all just like to know what's going to happen next- it's a little bit of responsibility mixed with our sinful desire to play God and control and understand everything.

Today during Convocation (woohoo! 2010-2011 school year!), Dr. Haddad, a professor I highly respect, read from Hebrews 11. Verse eight stuck out to me: "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." Even Abraham did not understand what all God was up to. He did not even know where He was going! God does not always give us those hints as to where we are supposed to be. I was just so encouraged to hear that. I've just got to keep putting one foot in front of the other, pursuing a closer relationship with my Lord, desiring His will and His glory. Then, I will end up where I am supposed to be.

I realize that that is not the necessary main interpretation of that verse, but I think that I have every reason to draw huge comfort from it. Life is busy and good. Better yet, God is good.

Loving. Living. Loving living,
April

Little Sister's Here!

Well, I'm starting to feel good. The apartment is fully unpacked, we're just waiting on getting our curtains up. My little sister is here and in middle of orientation. I've gotten to see a LITTLE more of my boyfriend. :) Life is good.

The other night I was reading through Ruth. Originally, the plan was only a chapter, but you just can't stop in the middle of a story like that. It was really neat to ponder just how incredible the story really is. Ruth rejects the chance at a "normal" life with her own people to follow a foreign mother-in-law into hard circumstances. Not only that, but she also chooses to leave behind the gods she knew and follow the God of Israel. Throughout the book, Ruth's loyalty and dedication are hard to believe. I cannot fathom the amount of hard work that she willingly took on.

The the coolest part though is how you see the hint of Jesus, as the book ends with her descendants all the way to David. What an awesome way for God to honor her, by letting her be part of the line of Christ! Of course, there are many deeper parallels to the gospel, but I think we'll just scratch the surface for now.

A Week In

I have been in Georgia for a week now, just about. Wow! RA training has kept me super busy, just today I finally got all of my stuff unpacked in my apartment. (Pictures will come soon!) There are a million things I could say, but I want to get to bed early.

I do want to ask for your prayers quickly. Please just pray that God will help me to learn well during the rest of training, and that He will work through me. Pray that He would enable me to do a good job as an RA, but also keep me incredibly humble. Pray that the cross would be ever before me. Pray for my sanctification and God's glorification.

More stories and information on life will follow as soon as I get a chance. God is good!

Home

I've been home for six days now! It's hard to believe. It feels like I just got here. Life has been really busy for the past few days, and it doesn't really settle down.

I just had surgery on my knee yesterday. Praise God, it was much less serious than anticipated! I am looking at a quick recovery! Right now, of course, I am struggling to be patient with being out of commission, so I would still appreciate prayers! Please also pray that I can figure out how to squeeze in a doctor's appointment before I leave for school next week.

I am planning on continuing to blog this next year, about once a week. I may not be in Mexico anymore, but GOD still continues to teach me on a daily basis. I love to share all that I am learning. Any of you that would like are welcome to continue to follow my blog.

I am also working (slow but sure) on a summary of the summer. I hope to post that on my blog for you all, but I will also be sending it out to those of you that so generously supported me financially and in prayer this summer. Thank you for being part of what God has done!

Until later!
April Joy