I realize that I promised updates/stories/posts about my trip to Jamaica last week and have yet to deliver. I apologize for this negligence. Turns out I'm not as good at making up a week's worth of missed homework as I thought.

Anyway, to start things off, I'd like to tell you all a little bit about peace. After returning to the states at the end of July from Jamaica, I've been busy with life, all the while knowing that something was missing. I felt that while I was serving with NextGen I had found a place where I fit perfectly. The people that I needed to pour into my life were there. And my gifts and services were demanded of me everyday. In short, I was living a life were I was continually receiving and giving out blessings. Coming back to life as a college student seemed so selfish to me. Rather than the balance I had found of giving and receiving, it felt as though all I was doing now was taking. Everything I do at school seems to me to be for my own benefit, and therefore of little benefit in the end. Frustrated and restless, I poured out my heart to God and begged for peace that I knew would come when He revealed His plan for my life to me. Yet the only answer I was given was one to simply wait.

I am sometimes very patient. But I am also a planner. I want to know what I should plan for. For me, this waiting was not peaceful.

I had high expectations going back to Jamaica. Connecting with that place, those people, and God again was a beautiful image to me. And I hoped I would come away from it with a least a small smidgen of guidance as to what sort of plans I should make next. Being back in control and able to plan, I would then have peace. Or so I hoped.

One of my favorite things about God is that I think he laughs at my plans. Not in a menacing way, but in the way that a parent laughs at their young child who attempts the foolish or impossible task. I think he often looks over at me trying to do things the way I think they should be done, smiles, shakes his head, and waits for me to be ready to accept his help. I love that His ways have nothing to do with what I think should happen.

I loved being in Jamaica for a week, back where I felt that connection to my calling. I asked a lot of questions and got many answers. From all of them, I did not receive my desired guidance. The funny thing is that I never noticed. It was only today as I was processing the idea of peace in my head, trying to form my thoughts about it into words to tell a friend who had just asked me about it, that I realized I am at peace with the future. I still have no idea what sort of plans I should make, and I am completely 100% out of control. Did I mention I'm at peace? Without specific guidance or plans or any knowledge of the future, I am content.

I still have many questions and desire many answers. But I'm able to wait till the time is right.

Thank you, to all who prayed for my restless heart these past few months.

Leaving Jamaica always feels a little like leaving home for me. It's funny how you can get so attached to a place. I fly out this afternoon and will hopefully arrive in MSP tonight. The team doesn't fly out until Saturday, but unfortunately, I had to leave a day early in order to be back at school. Thanks for all your prayers and support. I'm hoping to do a little more in depth updating and detailing of the trip on here either later today or tomorrow some time. So if your interested in cool stories, you should probably check it out. Thanks for all your prayer!

The internet was down here for several days, so this is the first time I've had a few minutes to update you all. We arrived in Jamaica just fine on Saturday afternoon. Our flight was delayed leaving MSP about an hour because they had to de-ice the plane after we were all boarded. It was the first snow of the year there the morning me left. (A great day to fly to the Caribbean, right?) I thought for sure we would miss our connecting flight in Memphis, but I think the Lord was looking out for us and we stepped right off the plane on to the next one. We came in to Montego Bay about an hour late, but at that point it didn't affect our schedule at all. This whole week the team is going to two schools in the morning (usually a high school and a primary or junior high school) and a night evangelism show with various things in the afternoon. Today they are heading up the mountain to Robin's Nest orphanage. All seems to be going smoothly. There has been a few things that the team needs to work on to make it through the week. Mainly there have been small problems with complaining and disrespect for the dress code. Please pray that everyone down here would be blessed with a servant's heart.

Fall Travels

Hey again! Fall is in full swing, and the new season brings a lot of new adventures and challenges. I know a few of you know that I'm going back to Jamaica to serve again for a week, but for those of you who don't, well, you do now! Haha. I'm scheduled to fly out next weekend and will be gone a week. I'll be doing essentially the same thing as I was all summer for a team that is taking a week long trip down there. I'm really excited to be going back, but as always I need prayer (who doesn't?). :-) Please be praying that everything in general will go well. Flights, travel, ministry, team relationships: the whole package. Please also pray for me and the work I need to do in order to make this work. I'll be missing an entire week of classes to go, and even though there's nothing I'd rather be doing, I will have a lot of homework to stay on top of. Finally, pray for me as I consider my future and what God has in store for me. I am still unsure where I'll be next year, but I'm hoping that this week will give me some insight into my next step. Thank you all for your support and encouragement. Like last time, I'll try to keep you updated.