The Changing of Seasons...

Yes it is time once again for change in my life.

The past month has been a busy one. Our time has been filled with classes and homework as well as lots of time with people. Several teachers have invited our team to their homes for delicious deserts, words of wisdom, and encouraging times of prayer. As we finish our time as college students we feel filled up and ready to take on the world :)

This last week was our last as students at Bethany College of Missions! It has been an incredible three years of seeking God, building relationships and growing into the calling God has on each of our lives. We have gone deep in our relationship with God. He has blessed us with life long friendships and supporters. And we have been equipped to reach the nations with His life changing message. I am so blessed and thankful that the Lord lead me to this place for this time of training. Bethany will always be a second home and place close to my heart.

I will be leaving tomorrow morning bright and early to return to my hometown in Michigan. So good-bye Bethany...

...and now October

My goodness time is flying so quickly. I suppose that comes with being busy. I have been immensely enjoying the beauty of autumn in Minnesota and trying to learn to enjoy the cold!

September kept my team and I busy with classes. We just finished a two week independent study on creative methods of going to the field. I am extremely interested in Teaching English as a second language and I learned a lot of practical things about it during our study. I fell in love with teaching English during my internship and I am very excited to pursue getting a certificate in TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) in the near future!

Besides studying I have been spending lots of time with the Lord reflecting on my time in Thailand and seeking His will for my future. My dear team mates have remained a big part of my life and new friendships have formed as well. It continues to be a blessed season of resting and learning.

September has come...

...and I want to write about it. I so missed the changing of seasons during my time in Thailand. I loved perpetual summer, it is my favorite season after all. But summer is not the same without the changes of autumn, winter and spring to prelude it. It is a rainy September evening. The leaves are beginning to change into their beautiful colors. The sun comes up later and goes down earlier. I feel like I should be buying new clothes. I am going to class everyday, doing homework and making new friends. Tonight I am eating a crispy, green apple (by no means fresh...probably grown in Washington or something but it's the thought that counts). I am sipping tea, wearing slippers and doing homework. I am so thankful for changing seasons!

The lovely place I live now...

Here are some pictures of life lately...

The neighborhood

Sasha taking her photo of the day

Sasha's Dandelion

Graduation!

On August 14th I graduated from college! Which felt a little funny since I’m not actually done with all of my classes until November 5. But since there were only four of us needing to finish off our final credits they allowed us to walk in graduation along with the rest of the graduating seniors. Enough details - Pictures!

Thanks to my Momma here are some pictures from the day…

This event made me realize that I am very soon entering a new season of life. I feel as if I’m standing on the edge of a cliff, the edge of which I will be required to jump off of in less then three months time. As of right now, after November 5 I have no solid plans. But I am reminded of a similar cross-roads when I graduated from High School. And as I look back at that season and all that has happened since then, I am filled with a quite confidence in my shepherd and leader. You see, when I gave my life to Jesus, really surrendered myself to Him at the age of 17, I had no idea how that would direct my life so radically. Or how wonderful following Him would be. Yes it has been hard but like Paul says in Philippians 3 “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead…” God has used those hard times to mature me and complete me (James 1:4). I rejoice in looking back at the faithfulness of God and so I rejoice in looking forward to the faithfulness to come!

Being Back in America

Since my return from Thailand a popular question has been:

“how is it being back in America?”

I have been trying to figure out my thoughts and feelings to answer that question. In many ways it almost feels like I never left. Many things are the same, exactly as I remember them. My family, for example, doesn't seem that different. We kept in contact well while I was gone, so I know what has been going on in their lives and it has been so good to see them again.

But in other ways it feels like I’ve been gone for years and some things are almost shocking. Like Wal-Mart for example. Now Wal-Mart is a very normal thing for Americans and I grew up going there almost weekly for all the little things necessary for living life. But coming back from Thailand I was overwhelmed by the size, the shininess and just the general Wal-Mart-ness of it. There are large Wal-Mart type places in Thailand but they are not as big, they have Thai people, the Thai language and Thai food in them. Wal-Mart is very different. Why do we need a whole aisle just for Shampoo and Conditioner? It took me a long time to figure out which shampoo I needed for my hair and which one was the cheapest. It was a rather overwhelming experience that nearly brought me to tears.

So how is being back in America? It is good, refreshing and exciting. But it is also hard and overwhelming at moments.

San Fransisco

I have now been back in America for a little more than three weeks. These weeks have been full ones filled with family, traveling, a wedding, traveling, graduations, and more traveling. I miss Thailand but I'm so happy to be back too. Currently I'm living in Minneapolis Mn finishing my last semester of college.

My first day in the States was a 12 hour layover in San Fransisco California which I spent with Jarred's parents. I love San Fransico! Here are some pictures I took while I was there...