Living in the moment. Not worrying about the future. Two huge goals. Two huge graces. Jesus has just been giving me so many opportunities to rest in Him and learn to trust Him. As the school year wraps up, the future still has a few uncertainties. But I've come to realize that it is an incredibly unique opportunity for me to really put my relationship with Jesus into practice in a profound way.
It is crazy to realize how last year at this time I was finishing student teaching, completely unsure of where FOCUS would send me, and getting ready to leave NDSU and my hometown of Fargo. God has blessed me so much through my yes to Him this year. I have learned so much from my teammates, the students here at UMD and CSS, our chaplain Fr. Mike, and the other missionaries across the country. Not to mention all that God has taught me through reading, studying Scripture, and learning to be entirely dependent on Him alone. What a great gift. I was rereading some cards I have gotten throughout the year last night and found one from Amanda, the first FOCUS missionary I met at NDSU my first year there. In it, she wrote that God cannot be outdone in His generosity and that I would benefit more from my time with FOCUS than any of the students I meet. After just one year, I know that Amanda was definitely right.
Jesus keeps finding many ways to remind me of His love. This past weekend, 4 of my sisters came to visit! It was the first time I had seen some of them since Christmas break. We had an amazing weekend shopping, touring Duluth and the Northshore, eating some good food, and just hanging out. Perhaps my favorite part of the whole weekend was when we all piled into my living room to watch a movie, eat snacks, and just laugh together. People are constantly shocked when I say that I have 8 little sisters (and no brothers), but I wouldn't trade my family for anything.
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| sisters and I at the canal |
In addition to that big gift of a weekend with 4 of my best friends, Jesus has loved me with little things that just make my day. Here is a short list from just this week so far:
-Monday, I got a phone call from Fr. Cheney (NDSU Chaplain) who was here in Duluth! What a treat to spend time with him and grab lunch when I wasn't expecting it!
-Tuesday morning, my wonderful team director brushed all the snow off my car before I left to work out. What an awesome surprise to start the day! (We had record snowfall the night before)
-Yesterday I had great conversations with Catie, Sherry, and Teia. Plus an opportunity to share some of the beauty of Theology of the Body with my bible study!
-Today I came to Caribou to do a little work and read, and found out that they have a rewards card! I love Caribou coffee and instantly said yes. This led to a free size upgrade on my Campfire mocha, a free coffee next time I come in, and my receipt had a survey on it for a dollar off next time too! Jesus clearly knows me well!
I'm so thankful for all these little graces, and also a big one. It is hard to think of not being here in Duluth next year. But on Sunday, Jesus opened my heart to love the girls here in a new way. He gave me the ability to recognize that I might not be what's best for them and their relationship with Him next year. And if that is so, then I love them enough to let go and move.... I just want them to be His, not mine. So, either way, I'm going to enjoy these last weeks of the semester and just help them grow as much as I can, so that with or without me, Jesus is always their number one.
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| disciple Teia and I at Mass n Meal last week |
I'll be sure to post something when everything about next year is set and finalized. Until then, please pray for all of the students and missionaries as we finish up the year. Especially for the grace to remain centered on Christ with all of the distractions that this time of year (and some hopefully warmer weather!) can bring.
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