Invitations and Responses

The entire PhotogenX DTS 2014

The time has come.  After saying an over-emotional goodbye to one of our three teams an hour ago, it is hitting me that this season is over, and we are transitioning to a new one.

As I look back on my time in Kona, I see this growth process as a series of invitations from God.  I am typically someone who enjoys saying yes to God, but there have been a few times in my life that I said no and disobeyed Him, looking to serve myself or simply thinking that my plan is better than His.  Everything I learned here was a result of responding with "yes" to an invitation.  Coming here in the first place even follows this pattern.  Each week as we had a different speaker, I felt as though God was inviting me to learn more about his character.  The speakers were incredibly diverse, which I loved, because it challenged me many times to think outside of the box I grew up in and it has forced me to question what I truly believe and seek out God's truth in His word.  Each week I had to open myself up to allowing God to teach me whatever he has for me here, which was a scary thing, but I am so glad that I did because it made my relationship with him so much more personal.  I now realize that he prepared everything that I learned here, and I just had to allow him to work in me to accept or challenge each tidbit of information as it came in.

I have surrendered more of my own plans here than I ever have before, and God has broken down some of the pride I had for myself and my goals and my own thoughts.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55:9

I had a plan for my life after DTS.  That may or may not be changing.  All I know is that I am choosing to say yes to whatever God leads me to.  It is thrilling and scary at times, but for the most part God has given me such a peace about it.  I am so glad that I can rest easy knowing that God will lead me to what's next and I don't even need to stress about it.  I can only focus on what is right in front of me, and for the next two and a half months, that is outreach!

My outreach team

I am more excited for outreach than I can express in words.  I really feel strongly that I need to open myself up to God's ability to use me in ways that I can't even imagine.  He has promised to do great things through us and I am ecstatic to see it in action.

"I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father." John 14:12

I am looking forward to what's in store, and I am excited to return home and relay all that God has done.  Thanks so much for all of the support and encouragement from friends and family at home.  Your prayers mean so much!

Goodbye, Hawaii, and Mahalo

Last weekend was my favorite weekend in Hawaii.  A group from my DTS went to Waipio, which is a beautiful valley with a river that runs into the sea.  We hung out on the beach there for a few hours before going to the top of Mauna Kea, the highest mountain in the world, altitude-wise.  (Mount Everest is the highest from base to tip, but its base begins below sea level.)  It was thirty one degrees at the top and no, I did not bring my winter coat to Hawaii, so it was a cold one!  However, it was entirely worth it.  The view was amazing, and I tried my best to capture it.  It was such a beautiful reminder of how infinite and ornate and GRANDIOSE God is! Enjoy!

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