My heart is so full and I feel so blessed, resting in lifted stress and new opportunities.
First off, we started classes at college this week and after an awful last semester I was hoping for the best. Unfortunately, I will still have a very demanding work load that is looking pretty daunting. Fortunately I am relieved to have very interesting, engaging and caring professors, as well as the excitement of having a lot of classes with friends. In particular, today I have classes with a couple friends I was close with freshman year, but life has gotten in the way and friendships have gotten spread thin. I am so happy I get to have class with them because that means I get to see them a couple times a week and get to "do life" together again.
Next, at the end of last semester I visited a church with my dear friend. She told me about a couple that lived near me that went to her church who actually started a non-profit in Africa. I know I have not talked about my passion for Africa much on this blog, but my heart beats for the children in Africa. I knew I wanted to get to know them, and so I proceeded to look into their organization. My friend was suppose to get us in contact but when things got in the way it never happened. So today I emailed her before my class from the "contact" section of their website. I explained how I knew our mutual friend and gave a blip on my love for Africa and their work and my upcoming trip to Kenya. I proceeded to say something along the lines of, and equally as awkward as, "I don't know how busy you guys are but I would love to pick your brain, or get connected, or help or work, or anything really haha". And honestly, everything in me wanted to type the words "and I just WANT TO BE YOUR BEST FRIEND!" but I thought that was too much. Well, when I left my class I had an email. From her. and the subject line said, "Let's Be Friends :)". Her words said the following, "Thanks so much for getting in touch with us! When I got your email, this was my reaction…
“AHHH!!! We NEED to be friends!!” So, needless to say, I would absolutely LOVE to meet with you, hear about your heart for Africa, your upcoming trip to Kenya, and just get to know you a bit more."Ahh! I thought to myself, here I was scared to even vocalized the desires of my heart, or even think that it could be something, and God is just handing them right to me. Her response filled everything I was longing for. I have been wanting someone to talk Africa with, someone outside of my college's bubble and a couple steps ahead. A couple who has wisdom and experience. Connections and passion. So we are getting coffee on Wednesday. I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship.
Shortly after I was in my RD's apartment talking about some things and we get a text that says, "It's SNOWING!" Kelsey and I ran outside to see the most magical, unexpected snow fall softly to the ground. We twirled and laughed and took shameless selfies. It was such a surprise.
Last, but not least, I had to have a couple tough conversations with my roommate the last couple days. This is our 3rd year together and she will be graduating in December. I made commitment to stay with her, but the opportunity has come up to stay in this beautiful 100 yr old home with some girls that make up the richest of my communities. I told them I would move in after December but through a series of events they have asked if I could move in the fall. I struggled with how to present this to my roommate so that I was not abandoning her, but it was also what was best for me to move in early so my senior year could be more stable. I struglled with the tug-o-war of feeling selfish and doing what I needed for myself.
After dinner I was able to ask my friend to add me to the group text and announced to them that there would be a princess moving in upstairs (because I have been assigned the attic room and I feel very much like Sara Crewe from the Little Princess who gets sent to the attic). They all welcomed me with the greatest joy and my heart was overflowing. All I can do is day dream about decorating and living in my own little world. I'm thrilled. One of my many dreams is to live in a house full of girls in sweet community. Such peace has come over this decision. Last week we all decided to not go to church and instead we snuggled up with blankets and coffee and watched a sermon together then spent time journaling. Similarly, when we went and looked at the house the other day, we had a time of prayer together. (understand why these girls are the real deal?) There is so many things that go into this but I'll leave it at that.
Finally, tonight we had floor Bible Study. The room was fuller then it has ever been before and we spent time worshiping and praying. It was laced with peace and love and I was reminded why I loved these girls. I prayed last summer for these girls and for this hall and I am beyond blessed. I prayed for peace yet growth. I prayed for God to be evident and so much more, and I feel like I am watching those prayers being answered right in front of my eyes.
I have had many days in the past couple years that are filled with darkness and I wonder if God still remembers me. But today I felt the verse Psalm 37:4 "Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart". I will say that it was not my doing, maybe feeble acts of diligently fumbling over God's word in the morning as I try to absorb my coffee, but today I was able to see the desires of my heart in the flesh. Some desires I didn't know I had, others I had given up on.
People keep telling me to not give up, and to take heart, as I am growing weary. And today God told me, keep going. I'm making all things beautiful in it's time. (Ecc. 1:11)
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