Wherever You Are,Be All There

I remember hearing that phrase in high school and finding it extremely challenging, considering I spent large amounts of times not actually being fully present and engaged where I was. It was much easier to contribute half-halfheartedly to what was going on at the present time, while in my mind think of places and areas I'd rather be, people I'd rather be with, the exciting things that I'd do in my future. It resulted in an underlying discontent in where I was, and a false (dead) hope in my dreams and how in my perfect world things would go.

Over the last few years God's given me a lot of grace in this area, and He has blessed me with the ability to fully savor this phase of life; I am absolutely loving it! I was a little nervous about how I would be once I knew for sure I was going to South Africa--if I would check out and instead dream of how I thought it would go, if I would just want to leave already, etc. That's what Martha's flesh would tend to do. Jesus in me, however, has given me this incredible focus over these past several weeks for where I currently am! I'm excited about what God is doing in St. Louis and in various locations across the country. I can hardly even think about saying goodbye for 6 months to all the people I've come to know here without starting to miss them already! I am thankful to be an RA, despite the crazy schedule and lack of sleep and paperwork, because I know I get to directly influence many student's lives. In fact, I have found myself forgetting that I have this trip coming up because I'm so focused on the work to be done right now--which is very very very NOT of me!

On September 13th, Jubilee goes to two services. Amazing! I can't wait to help in that transition, and am so glad I get to be a part of it. LATITUDE (our college group) is growing, and the semester hasn't even started yet. I live in Oak hall, where almost everyone I know doesn't know Jesus and is living in loneliness and darkness. I LIVE right there; I am in the thick of hopelessness, and I get to love these students!

I guess I say this to show how God is faithful to take an area of weakness of in our life and completely turn it around-not for us, but for His glory and to see His mission accomplished! I'm excited for this trip, but I am not there yet. I am here, and I do feel like I am 100% present on what is going on currently, and not what is going on in 6 months. A LOT can change in that time period, so for now it works so much better for me to be about what God has me doing TODAY. I am all here. :)