The Awakening Program is over. I’m now looking forward to next semester: Outreach.
I’ve had to rid myself of my old ways and old ideas. Things that have held me back for years. This program has helped me to look forward into the future and want to live different. To desire greater things and to have open eyes to God’s heart for the world. I think the biggest challenge, though, is coming back into life as I know it and ACTUALLY living changed. To put my hand to the plow and not look back (see Luke 9:62). I already have some ideas of practical ways live back in Livermore for however long I’ll be living there. Things like spending time at a local coffee shop getting to know regulars and employees, investing in the youth, maybe starting a girl’s Bible study. I want to get serious about my time since it may be split between two worlds from now on.
There are things that we should break ties with, but other things that we have to leave behind simply because of current circumstances. This past week during the four days of debrief we’ve been able to process the things we’ve experienced from the last three months. God has really done some amazing things and I wish that I could write them all down for everyone to see. Here are just a few highlights and things I’ll miss from the first half of my trip:
- September UCSA camp
- Beat the Drum week in Pearston
- Horseback riding
- Getting to know the girls in my house…shout out to Alene, Sara, Brittany, La, Layne, Beth, and Jess!
- The families of St. Francis
- Asking Mandy and her husband Johnny hard questions about angels and demons, and learning from them as well.
- The Talhado kids racing our van all the way down the street
- Discipleship class, especially Chris and Tag’s teachings
- Reading Exiles
- Deep conversations with good friends, really challenging each other to search the Father’s heart
- Walking two minutes to the beach
- Trying to figure out life in South Africa
- Calculating the exchange rate from USD to Rand
- Constantly using “T.I.A.” as an excuse for everything (This Is Africa)
- Doing Ryan’s dreds
- The ghetto blue van
- The big four leaders who are going home…I learned so much from you guys! Thanks for everything!
- Chilling at Potter’s Place drinking smoothies and having really weird service every time!
We’ve also had to say our goodbyes as well, which is so weird and definitely hasn’t hit me quite yet. There are a number of people that I won’t see again except for one day in May when we all get on the airplane and fly back to Georgia together. So weird.
It’s like a few days before Christmas, right? It does not feel like it at all. For one, it’s like 90 degrees today. Christmas Day is Thursday, and we leave for Cape Town the day after! I think some of us who are going to be around are going to cook a big turkey. It won’t be the same, but we’re definitely going to try to make it special.
Love makes life worth living.
