Something New....

Today I told myself I would do something new...So I am going to start a blog... I always told myself I would never start a blog because my grammar is TERRIBLE...But I am going to do it anyways. If you can get past bad grammar then you can read about my life.

I am currently situated in German land. I have been living here for approximately eleven months and I have 4 more weeks to go. 4 more weeks. Wow. I don't think I can express in words how amazing this year has been. I have met people that I will be friends with forever. I left for Germany on September 22, 2010 and originally I was only suppose to be here until April but God had something different planned for me. In January I was pulled aside and I was asked if I would like to stay at Bodenseehof and do an internship until September with 5 other people and they gave me 3 weeks to decide. I wasn't supposed to tell anyone but my best friends, Sarah and Jenny, asked me why Steve and Andy pulled me into their office...So I told them. I didn't want to stay but God’s plan was different then my plan so after many prayers, tears, arguments with God and long conversations with my family I told them I would stay.

My bible school experience was amazing. I had six months of wonderful fellowship. For the second semester I had 9 roommates and that was a blast. My first semester roommates were crazy, I laughed so hard in that room. I just remember Margarita and Malia making me laugh until I cried. The two girls I mentioned earlier, Sarah and Jenny, were incredible blessings in my life. We were best friends from day one. Words cannot describe how amazing those two girls are. After Christmas break we hadn't seen other in 3 weeks and we went to the cafe for four hours just talking and laughing and catching up. 3 weeks felt like forever...Now I haven't seen them in over 4 months and I miss them so much. I miss everyone so much. I miss my crazy redhead friend Carly, I miss my twin Alyssa, I miss Becky my bunky, I miss all 108 students. BUT, I am also satisfied with the place I am at now because I know I am in God's will and his grace is enough for me. When all the students left on April 2nd I remember feeling so empty and depressed but as time went on I began to heal and I have grown so close with the 5 other people that were asked to stay. Christa and Nelli have taught me so much. Philip, Steffen and Kyle are like brothers to me. I look back on all the memories I have with them, like the canoe trip we went on last week. I don't think I have laughed that hard in my whole life. Or how the 6 of us can be so honest around each other. I am going to miss our bible studies, I am going to miss seeing those 5 people every single day. They know me so well; they know my testimony inside and out. Throughout the past 11 months God has blessed me with amazing friendships. Above all of this I have been able discover more and more about God's character. I have grown so much in him and as each day goes on I recognize my weakness but through that I recognize his strength. When I am weak he is made strong. I have discovered what it really means to rest in him and I have discovered that everything I do should be for his glory.

I could write pages and pages of experiences. I could write about the way God has stretched me and moulded me into a women that is striving to be like him (although I fail miserably) or I could write about my travel experiences in Holland, France, Switzerland and other countries, I could write about the concerts we have to put on every week, I could write about the way God has provided me with just enough strength to do his will, I could write for ages...Maybe one day when I get home I will dedicate a blog post to my favourite memories in Europe...Yes. I think I will do that.

So 4 more weeks...I want to take advantage of every moment I have left here. I want to savour the beauty that surrounds me, the apple orchids, the view of the Swiss and Austrian Alps, the lake, the forest, the beautiful country roads, the sunsets and sunrises that dance over the mountains. I want to stand in awe of God's creation. He is so good and I couldn't thank him enough for his grace and his faithfulness.