Wednesday, 29 August 2012

Complete.

Our staff team
 And thus ends a wonderful, challenging, exciting era in my life. I've wrote about what a great time these past few months have been, so I won't bore you with more adjectives and sappy analogies. However, I did want to show you a few pictures of the people who have been in my life. Granted, these are only a few pictures (yes, I did choose the ones where I thought I looked best), but they are memories and amazing people all the same.
Sharen and I
It's funny; I thought I would miss everyone a lot more than I currently do. I'd expected streams of mascara running down my face and mucus pouring out every orifice of my puffy, miserable-looking face. However, thankfully, this was not the case. I do miss them, obviously, but not in a sad way. I suppose this is partially due the fact that many of the students are traveling and are in and out of the base. But, I think it's also because I don't view this as "goodbye" for many of them. In fact, I expect to see many of them coming back to staff more DTS's in the near future. And, if not that, I expect many road trips and reunions over the upcoming years. I've made many friendships that I intend to last quite a long time, and I believe they shall. Good times ahead!
Staff on the Oval
 

Saturday, 18 August 2012

Key Lime Cheesecake Day (or A Lazy, Hazy Weekend)

Summer has FINALLY arrived here in England. And by that, I simple mean that we've had four days of consecutive heat and sun! So, what does one do when the sunshine is out and every England native is desperately tearing apart their wardrobe trying to find suitable attire (let's face it, none of us saw this one coming)? While most people are outdoors soaking up some rays, I've opted to remain indoors this morning and bake. Surprising because I never used to bake back home (my sister's the talented one in that regard). However, I've discovered that I really, genuinely enjoy baking nowadays. There are the obvious reasons why I love baking; the fun of tying on my apron and frolicking in the kitchen, whisk in hand, singing "My Sharona" at the top of my lungs whilst sampling my dish every ten seconds. But I've also realized there's more to baking that I enjoy. I love the finished product, not just for taste, but because it reminds me that all things come to a finish, a delicious closure, if you will. And now that the Impact UK DTS is nearing it's own closure (three more days!), it seems only fitting that I remind myself that finishing is often sweet...

It's been a long eight months and, though I can't honestly admit to enjoying every bit of it, I wouldn't change a thing about it. I grew deeper in my relationship with God, I learned that I am more than my past, present, and future. I met amazing people, people who have changed my life in, hopefully, similar ways to how I've changed theirs. I've seen God move in ways I've never witnessed before, and been able to be apart of them, too. God's reminded me of my dreams and the things I desire, not selfishly, but the things He's placed in my heart and desires for me as well. Overall, it's been a good year.

Granted, it's always slightly disheartening when I'm finished baking. I'm left to clean up and put the kitchen back in order again. But it was fun while it lasted and I know that I'll be back the next day with some new recipe and some new mishaps and deliciousness. 

Which is why I'm also excited for this next September DTS. Much fewer staff, many more students with a higher female/male ratio, and a whole new experience (or recipe!). I'll admit that I feel this new school will be tough, quite challenging. But I suppose it's like taking on a creme brule recipe after having just mastered oatmeal cookies; this is a new challenge that will be possibly more complicated, but just as delicious, and maybe even more so now that I know what I'm doing! 

Monday, 6 August 2012

Questions.

There are people walking about, wandering aimlessly through the heavy excitement and anticipation. All appear unaware of the large paint smear that hangs in the air above their heads. Not a beautiful, abstract smear that one can admire, but a grotesque, undefinable smear that taints the blue sky above. It takes me a moment to realize this is more than just an artists' error; it's an error of my own making. Where there once was a definite, if not slightly blurry, picture of God in everyone's mind, there is now a heavily disfigured, confused blur. With every voice that screams "God Hates", "God Loves", "God is Mormon", "God is Islamic", "God is Vegan", "There is no God", "God Forgives", the smear grows and grows in size. And I sit back and wonder, "Am I making this picture any clearer or simply adding to the noise?"

This was my experience when I was in Stratford this past Friday. You often hear people speak of "spiritual heaviness", but it's an entirely different matter to experience it firsthand. With so many leaflets, tracts, and pamphlets being thrust into peoples hands as they walk on by, how can anyone know what's true? Even more worrisome than that, how can anyone know who God is?

We know that God can do all things and that, through Christ, all things are possible, but I have to sit back and wonder sometimes, "Are we actually working WITH God, or are we working for ourselves"? When we go out to evangelize, whatever that looks like, are we listening to the Holy Spirit and being guided by Him, or are we following a formula created by man which has left the Church in its' current state? These are the questions I find myself asking myself when I go out now. As a human, there's only so much I can do in my own strength. The human soul is the heaviest thing to move and so it's only through Holy Spirit that lives can be restored and redeemed. 

The strength of man is fleeting, 
and earthly glory rusts with time.
But the strength of the Lord endures all things 
and His glory lasts throughout the ages.