blessings.

Once again, it has been awhile since I have last blogged to cyberspace..and life has changed a little here and there...but this post is solely directed to the blessings God has so graciously given me.


I know it seems cliche but truly the friendships I already had prior to attending MC and the ones that have development since being here have been a tremendous blessing. There are so many girls here that I have been completely blessed to be in their Christ-centered presence. It is always a joy and an encouragement to be around the Godly women that He has placed in my path. Through some of the trials I have faced this semester, they have constantly been there to love on me with the love of Our Father and support me in all avenues of the unexpected hills and mountains and valleys I have been through thus far.

Furthermore, back in September, my friends and I went to Dollar Tree so I could get a few things for Rush (which I will mention later). I had a few dollars to spare but deep down inside I knew I truly did not need to spend money. Well, the woman in front of me was a few cents short of her bill and went outside to retrieve the spare change. The gentleman behind me kinda jumped ahead and paid the remaining 50 cents the woman owed. And the cashier proceeded to check him out even though he technically jumped ahead...all the meanwhile I didn't really care because I was focused on how much money I was spending, when all of a sudden he decided to pull my few items with his lot. The complete stranger paid for my few dollars worth of items--without having known the inner struggle I was dealing with. I was restraining the tears while inside the store and let them overflow outside because just like him, Christ paid for my sins and my debts on the cross without questioning because His desire was to follow the will of the Lord. Once in the car, my friend Sarah whom was brought to tears by the man's random act of kindness and wanted to pray for the man...we thanked God for the man's kindness and for his salvation that hopefully He too knows that Christ paid the wages of sin for each of us.That man will never know truly how much of a blessing he was to me financially and reminding me of my Savior's love.

Rush---in short it is the social service based tribes on campus. On the last day--Pref Day--you list the 4 tribes in order of your preference with 1 being favorite and 4 being not so favorite...up front, I had not been asking God to reveal to me which one He wanted me to belong to so I went with my own desire and placed this order: ST, NT, KT, LT. From there, they put all the girls' preference sheets in a bucket and draw them out and thus they go to their first preference if it has not already been filled with the maximum amount of pledges. Well, the next morning (Saturday) you find out which tribe you belong to....I walked into a room filled with pink streamers and balloons and clapping and screaming and was embraced by the ladies of KT (my 3rd pref). I was sorta angry since I got my 3rd pick and didn't understand how that could be! However, that was my selfishness and personal delusion. Upon discussing with another girl on my hall, I discovered that she got in NT which was her 3rd pref and my 2nd pref!! I could not get over how she got her 3rd but I couldn't get my 2nd pref. Silly, stupid me. It was never up to me...well it was to not follow the Lord in the manner..but to which tribe I belong to wasn't. While my first capped then the second capped with ladies that had them listed 3rd, I got my 3rd: Kissimee. It took me awhile to see the Lord's hand over it all considering I could have very well been in my second pref but I wasn't because that was not where the Lord wanted me to be. I was set aside to be in a great, dynamical, lively, joyful, Godly tribe of Kissimee and now wish to be in no other! Blessed beyond measure with the women of KT and the Lord's provision even when I do not desire it.

Lastly, I have been blessed by friends and speakers at chapel with Scripture that has reminded me of the Father's faithfulness and care for me. These are the verses that have humbly brought me to my knees in traveling up the mountain and down to the valley.

• "Guide me in your truth, and teach me, my God, my Savior. I trust you all day long." Psalm 25:5
• "Do not worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests made know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
• "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine." Song of Solomon 6:3 
• "Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of various kinds, because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4 

soon oh soon

This is brief:

One of the sweet families--the Bs-- that I got to know and dearly love this summer is returning for a bit for Stateside. If you would please lift them each up throughout the next few days since they are leaving the place that has been home for two years and flying with 3 kids under the age of 4 and returning back to "Themerica" as little Bobo calls it.

home bittersweet home

Brace yourself! 

So I must tell you how everything ended up the last 25 hours of my time in Serbia and transit back to the States. We got dropped off at the airport at 4:30 AM! because of course the only flight from Belgrade to Germany flies out at the crack of dawn! Our great friend, Kyle, took us to the airport--he has had tons of experience of this by now this summer. But we had a few complications along the way but needless to say Our Father sure enough slowed the time down!!


Leaving Belgrade to Frankfurt, my seat was on the last row and how glad it was! I was tearing up and trying my best not allow everyone to see myself puffy and red-faced. And if you know me, you know I absolutely hate to cry in public..and usually I make jokes in those moments to lighten up the mood. Thus, I couldn't help but say in my head in my best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice "I'll be back!"  I long to be back there and see the folks we built relationships with and see how the Lord provided so many opportunities to show His Love to the Serbs. Furthermore, the sun was just rising as we were in commute to Germany and was comforted with Psalm 113:3-4 "From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised. The LORD is high above all nations; His glory above the heavens." 


Even more so, the Sovereign Father sent people of Peace along our way. It was a tremendous blessing to encounter like-minded people in a completely foreign place. In the gate there was a massive group with the same shirt on which is que for church or school group; they were the former. And then while Bet was away, a girl plopped a book down beside me and I realized it was the Ted Decker trilogy book and sparked a conversation with her. She was in Bulgaria for the whole summer doing similar work. It was such a blessing to share with her and she with us for the 20 minutes we had. Then on our 10 hour flight back to Houston, the lady between Bet and I had picked up my Bible and said she had one similar to mine. She had been in Africa working at a Christian orphanage. And then near the end of the flight, I began to chat with the couple next to me in the middle aisle. They were like-minded as well and even more so..they lived in MS for a bit then went back to Alaska.  So many different people of Peace in Germany and on our flight!! 

Kerry...a dear blessing in Frankfurt

The flight to Houston I used to write in my journal and recap everything that had previously happened. Then back on US soil. Mixed emotions. However, it was pretty good to see this sign.

Had to go through customs and such and get luggage and tote it to another belt to transfer it and back through security....(the US security check point people were meaner than all the European ones for sure).  But then Bet and I had to split ways to go to our gates. It was pretty good to hear voices and know what they were saying but then I was still in my Serb mindset of words and actions. Jumped from Houston to Jackson and had these FABULOUS folks waiting for me with welcome home signs :) They are the best!! Then we chomped on some yummy seafood! 

Brennan, my G-MA, aunt, and parents

Later post to come with differences between the two countries, what I learned, and what I hope you can learn from my summer.