Ah. Finally. That sigh of relief that accompanies contentment.
Ahhh.
I was walking around campus today feeling joyful and at peace. There's been no crazy "God-revelation" no special prophetic word over my life, no inspiring prayer meeting that changed my perspective. Just peace in my Spirit about my life, and where I am in it. Finally. Let me tell you how amazing it feels.
I am content with not knowing what's coming to me.
I may be going to Costa Rica this coming Summer.
I may be going to Spain next Fall.
I may or may not get a job next semester.
I may be an RA next year.
I may graduate early.
I'm not stressed though at all. I really want a job, but I keep feeling that I shouldn't apply because I believe God wants to work in me at this time, and I need to involve myself completely in people and in campus things for at least one semester. One of the many things I've learned this week is that I'm not here at ORU to do well at my tests and stress out over homework. I feel that at this point in my life, ORU is exactly where I need to be. And, weather that be God or just be circumstances in my life, that point has been emphasized to me over and over again. This may not be the case in a few years, and I might move back home or somewhere else but right now I need to grow in this place. So, while I am doing well in school, I'm not worried about the tests I have on Monday. I am enjoying my friends, enjoying the outreaches I'm a part of, enjoying each day rather than the things I can't control which is freeing.
This week in particular has been great. I had the opportunity on Wednesday to go to the Salvation Army and lead worship. I don't think leading worship is one of my gifts in particular, so I was nervous. But it ended up being great, and I got a lot of compliments so that was encouraging.
My favorite part was talking to people after, hearing their stories and praying for them. We prayed for Dorothy, who lost her fiance 6 months ago to a shooting in a gas station, and Lesance who in tears told me he just needs to be "okay". What was really great was tonight I got to go back to the Salvation Army to serve dinner, and I got to see both of them and they recognized me. I'm really looking forward to going.
Next week, I'm going to the Laura Dester home, which is a temporary home for kids whose parent(s) are being suspected for crimes that are being investigated or other circumstances where they don't have a home. We get to play games and talk to them. Then, I signed up for my church's nursery on Sundays, and then Big Brothers Big Sisters (a tutoring program) interview is October 4th, that's once a week. My practicum for my education starts on Tuesday, too. I'm going to be a teacher aide for a middle school Spanish teacher in a high-risk school. (Edison high school/middle school). Between those things I have IWC (International Worship Center) and Souls A' Fire on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I'm in the Spanish club, I LOVE my church (Believers Church) and will hopefully be going to Spanish Church soon, I've been nominated the PMS fairy of the floor (give girls chocolate and medicine) and also the nominated Spanish tutor for a a few people on campus. Needless to say, I've been doing the best I can not to squander my time while I don't have a job...
Somehow, too, I am managing to work out around 4-5 times a week. (Even if it's at midnight like I just did, Haha) I have to brag: 6:45 mile time the other day, and 11:05 mile and a half time. Also, my abs and legs are like ROCKS! Look out, Incline. I'm coming for you.
Being at a Christian college is still hard for me, but I'm learning to love my college. I love being surrounded in people who are (mostly) mature. (Of course, being me, I surround myself with upper classmen, why can't I ever find anyone my own age I like to hang out with?)I love being up until 1:30 every night and having such a varied class schedule. I love that people actually care about school now. I'm learning to have grace for the home school kids who don't know anything besides the Christian bubble, as well as the sheltered kids. I'm starting to find fun things to do on weekends and find good friends. I'm going to talk to a Bible professor soon on some questions I have about the Bible, they scheduled a meeting with me. I have a hard time with certain things like the emotionalism, but it's not mine to judge. God gave me grace for my stupidity and rebellion, who am I to say certain ways of doing things are better than another? I just have to keep my own heart in check, and make sure my worship for God is sincere and whatever other people do is between them and God. I've been getting some good theological and philosophical discussions with good friends, too.
I'm feeling good about myself. I have a lot of work to do between God and I, still, but I really feel like I'm getting to the point where I'm progressing rather than staying the way I've been for so long.
ORU things:
1- PTL= Christian kid lingo for "Praise the Lord"
2- ORU shuffle- what I named the dance they do on stage. It's similar to a rock step. Normally accompanying the song "You are Jehovah"
3- Swing dancing is like a normal campus' clubbing.
4- Ke$ha comes on the radio and we all tilt our heads like, "What is this? Oh yes, the world... out there..."
5- "Where did you go to church today?" "Oh, I slept in." "..." "I had a ton of homework, you know. I just felt sick, I'm going to go tonight." *silent disapproval*
6- What do you do for fun? Well, I'm involved in 1600 outreaches to reach the lost for Jesus.
7- "Treasure hunting." A new concept for me: Getting a group of people, praying and asking God to reveal where they should go and who they should pray for, and then going and doing it.
8- Chapel. I haven't been to a single one yet where the pastor hasn't said, "Turn to your neighbor and say..."
9- You're no longer "good" when someone asks, "How are you?" because you may be lying. Say, "I am blessed."
10- Kids counting walking to class with a backpack "backpacking" for aerobic points.
There's ORU in a nutshell. It's 2 a.m., time to start on some homework... ;)
GOING HOME IN 2 WEEKS AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blessings and peace be unto you brethren...
;)
I want to slow dance to this song. There's that weird comment again, Ryan Pacheco...
Sierra
