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Here's the point where I would normally apologize for a 2 week absence and give some excuse about how busy I was. I was incredibly busy and a bit spaced out, if I'm honest. But aren't we all? So I hope you'll accept my apology. I'll save you from an excuse, though.
The past 2 weeks have been...interesting...in pretty well all aspects. You know those periods when you feel like that guy just about every day? Which guy, you ask?
Oh yeah.
That one. The trifecta of unfortunate: Not only is this dude riding a bike in the rain, but he face planted...on wet asphalt... in front of everyone.
I've had quite the fight with a nasty cold bug going around-my Thanksgiving was spent wrapped in a blanket and drinking tea because of a nasty cold and Strep. It's been a pretty stressful couple of weeks at work. Sometimes, it just feels like you're dropping the ball every single time it gets passed to you. And when you're in leadership-all eyes are on you. Always. Also, I hate to admit that my other international friends were right: the three month mark is killer. They all said that homesickness is at it's absolute worst when you've been somewhere for 3 months. I woke up one day last week and it hit me square in the face. I still feel like my heart is home here in Carlisle, but I miss my family and the familiarity (sweet tea and Reese's...anyone?) of the States something awful. Thankfully, I can feel it subsiding, though. Will you pray for that this week? I'm asking for peace and relief so that I can continue to do this job well. My mom arrives in TWO DAYS!!! So that should help quite a bit. I'm feeling the pangs of not being home for Christmas, though.
In the middle of that junk, there have been a few really great things happening lately. I'm continuously blessed with the opportunity to build relationships with people around the community. It does my heart good when I can sit and chat to someone new. A few of our regular customers are even starting to trust me more with their hurts. Trust me, friends, it's a true privilege to sit across from someone with a cup of coffee and just listen and pray with them in the midst of their little storm. However, relationships take an eternity to form and a second to break. Especially when dealing with people that have issues trusting and opening up. Will you pray that God would continue to work in the hearts of people that surround me daily? I'm also asking for wisdom and guidance as to how to best tread on these new surfaces.
Boy's Club and Ignite have both wrapped up for the semester. During the last couple of weeks, especially, God has been prodding my heart about a few things regarding these ministries. We've been able to form a few really good relationships with the youth that are coming, but it still seems like something is missing. Will you pray with me as I try to figure out what exactly it is He'd like me to do? Planning for next semester's events will begin soon, so it'll be crucial to have a clear(ish) vision of what next term might look like.
When I think about this crazy adventure of a year, some days I feel like I jumped into a puddle only to find that it was actually the world's largest lake and I forgot my floaties. Some nights, I keep myself awake fretting and worrying about the realities of the moment and the unknowns of the future. But here's a secret that I'm discovering: if we are confident in the hope we have in Jesus Christ, He will take care of us. He will sustain us. And the ride becomes easier. He didn't promise that we would reach the finish line of life without scraped knees and soaked clothes. But He did promise that if we keep going, we'd receive the greatest trophy of all: the arms of God himself eagerly awaiting to scoop us up and welcome us home. So I'm hanging on to that promise. I'm clinging to the hope that I have in Jesus Christ and the truth that He works all things together for His glory and our good.
As always, I'm amazed by the amount of love and support coming from the y'all. I truly could not do this work without it.
With love,
Britt