October 10th: Working and Stift

The Stift cafe in Heliegenkreuz, Austria

Today was our last full day of working maintenance since we will begin to clean up from the session once the students begin to leave tomorrow.  Time has flown by and it seems like we were just getting here and settling into the rhythm of things.  My time here has taught me many things and God continues to amaze me at how lucky I have been and blessed with an amazing family and friends.  The opportunities he has given me are one of a kind and could not have asked for anything more.  I know that through all the things God puts us through is for a certain reason and only he knows our plans and some of the deepest desires of our heart.  Our devotion today was on Prayer and what it really means to pray.  I have always considered prayer as sometimes just talking to God in a normal relationship and just letting him know our desires even though they may be different from his.  Prayer can be out loud, with a group of people, by yourself silently or by any other form of worship.  I enjoy running and just spending time with God and speaking to him about things while enjoying the beauty of his creation all around.  That is another thing though to work on is prayer and just spending more time with God whether it is in his Word or just time of prayer and just speaking to him more about life and entrusting him with everything through all the good and bad times.  Sometimes we tend to just pray when things are bad and ask him to provide or why he is doing this to us.  It is hard to remember that we must pray through all the good times and bad times and rejoice in him with everything knowing that he has a magnificent purpose for everything even if we don’t see it at the moment or may never understand it until we are home with Him.  After work today I was able to go on a longer run toward Baden and just some worship time with him on the path and just be amazed at the surrounding area and that I am here in Austria again.  We had a wonderful dinner with the students and more fellowship with some of the Bulgarians and Tessa who is the translator for them and her bubbly and happy personality with life.  The final part of the evening was spent at the Stift once again with some of the short term workers enjoying some coffee and more deserts and carrying on our fellowship with one another.  It was a great time to reflect on the past few weeks and what to expect when we return home and advice for the traveling.  I am very excited now to return and be able to share my trip and experiences but not just that but the rejuvenated body and soul that I was able to recommit to Christ.  It is such a blessing being around all these Christ centered people and I know it will be hard back home but I know that God places me in certain areas for a reason.

“A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?” - Proverbs 20:24