What a summer it has been.. After I arrived back to the US from Rwanda, I lived with my brother Andrew and his wife Jen and their 4 hilarious and rapidly growing children. They live near my university so I was able to work of the families that I nanny for throughout the school year on a more regular basis throughout this summer. It is really a joy to spend so much of my time with all these kids! In between nannying, I went to the beach in Cape May with my sister Sarah and and some friends and cousins, I went to Maine for the wedding of a friend, I went to Sanibel to visit friends (and the beach!), I went home to Bear Creek to see family and friends for an annual reunion, I went to Danville and northern Virginia to visit friends, and I went to Missouri to nanny and see family friends... what a summer it turned out to be! all while helping my sister Emily plan her wedding which is coming on October 4th! And during all of this I have been able to make a significant amount of progress with the process of counseling that my family is in. I am growing in my faith and continuing to learn what freedom in Christ is and who I am because of Him.
And now I am officially a junior in college. What!
I am now back on campus, getting ready to be a Teaching Assistant for the incoming pre-nursing students in the Introduction to Faith, Reason, and Justice class. As I prepare for this semester and settle in and reconnect with classmates and friends, I am also thinking of Haiti.
Today was the finale of Haiti's national music competition to promote freedom and bring about awareness to Haiti's child slavery crisis. Many people worked together to bring this even together, and I'm glad that some of my family and dear friends are there along with Chris Tomlin and some US congress people to support our friends in Haiti who are working so tirelessly in continuing to bring God's kingdom to Haiti.
The world is not an easy place to live in.. no matter where you are or who you are, none of us escapes the brokenness. Although I consistently see and experience people fighting the darkness, all over the news and social media is the chaos that sometimes feels like it is taking over the world.
I have experienced that when I take my eyes off of Jesus, the darkness does seem overwhelming and I cannot see His light that is in fact more powerful than the darkness, and in order to bring that light to every part of the world we must keep our focus on Him!
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. -1 John 1:5
My devotional from today was exactly what I needed to read as I have been thinking particularly about Haiti, but also every place in the world where people are experiencing all kinds of suffering, as all of us experience it in different ways.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me. - Psalm 23:4
My dear Child, I have no delight in the suffering of My people. I allow it only for their eternal good. Blessed are those who turn to Me in their trouble, for I am a God of mercy and compassion. The valleys through which I call you to go need not frighten you. The shadows and darkness are only for a time. Let your faith grow strong when darkness comes. Faith will overcome where daylight cannot prevail.
(Hal Helms)
As we walk this journey, may we not forget with whom we journey-- the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
There is a song on Passion's most recent album sung by Christy Nockels called "Let It Be Jesus." These few lyrics in it have been particularly speaking to me as it goes along with all of this.
Should I ever be abandoned
Should I ever be acclaimed
Should I ever be surrounded by the fire and the flame
There's a name I will remember, there's a name I will proclaim
Let it be Jesus
