decisions

There have been a lot of factors going into this decision to go to Italy:

~Naturally, I am an indecisive person. The fact that I made the decision to go is unbelievable to most. I don't take decisions lightly and I think through all the pros and cons. My introverted side sometimes gets in the way when I think so much and never act on anything... But I'll save my post about my introverted nature for another day... it's something I've been coming to grips with lately...
~People keep telling me that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Honestly, I would be just as content getting a job around Macomb and staying where I am. That is something that is surprising to me. I like being a nomad, but this year at Macomb has been the first time where I feel like I could move here permanently and be AT HOME. But God has other plans. I am looking forward to continuing this self-discovery journey.
~This summer I read Francis Chan's Crazy Love. It was a pretty good book and Chan posed an interesting question that I cannot get out of my head: WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW THAT REQUIRES FAITH? Honestly, I didn't come up with much. Relying on God to provide for me while I'm not getting paid much is the closest thing I could come up with in response...

Then I read posts like this one. I have faced all of those obstacles. The hardest is people who cannot understand why I'm going to Italy. I can only explain so much. I only know so much because that's all that God has revealed to me. I am going to pray continually over there for the ministry that is being done in Italy, whether I become a part of it or not. God is doing great works there and it would be amazing to join in the work, but like I said I would be perfectly content in finding a job in America, too.

For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ. ~Galatians 1.10

My plans these next few weeks:

September 1-7/8: Visit Tiffany in Washington DC.
September 14: Leave for Italy
December 9: Return to Michigan

No plans after that... we'll see what God reveals in these next few months.

blogging in progress

I rarely pay attention to blog designs because I read my blogs that I follow on google reader (thanks, rob).

However, I decided to learn a little bit more and got together with Amanda S. She is so creative. She's a beautiful wife and mother. She clearly enjoys life... and she's a friend of mine. She helped me put the pictures up... and come up with my own signature down below... thanks, Amanda!

Amanda had the privilege (if you can call it that) to be the first of my many MCC goodbyes. The surprising thing is that I was SO not ready for it... and neither was she. But we realized because her family wouldn't be at church on Sunday, that would be the last time we saw each other for a while.

In moments like these, I am reminded of a Dr. Suess quote:

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

God answers prayers in weird ways... I wanted to do a year long internship at MCC. When I started at MCC, I was given until May 2010... but because of circumstances, I stayed a year... and what a year it has been. 

I'll leave you with one of the first Bible passages I memorized... and it continues to be one of my favorites:


Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~1 Thessalonians 5.16-18

June 2010

In June, I saw this video.

Brian and Sarah are the ReachGlobal missionaries I am hoping to meet. They live in Rome.

Just to clarify: my goal is to spread Jesus and His love, not to convert Catholics to Protestant Christianity. A lot of people understand that Italy is a Catholic nation in much the same way America is a Christian one -- a lot of people identify themselves as Catholic or Christian nominally.

I love the opportunity I have in loving people to Christ.

I leave in less than a month. It is scary. People keep telling me how courageous it is... I guess I'll begin to feel it more when I'm done at MCC and realizing that this will be my life for three months!

How can I fail when God is on my side?
How can I NOT answer His call to go?
He gives me the courage.