October 2nd: Work Day and Appreciation Day

Jesus washing the feet statue in the Stift

Today was another great day of work and fellowship with some more of the students.  We continued with painting the balcony in the morning as well as some other small jobs to stay busy throughout the day.  We as short term workers are starting to figure out our spot in the work duties and get more of the hang of things as well as feel more comfortable around each other and the students.  This has been a time that I continue to ask God for patience with all the different types of people here.  It is something that I talked about with Peter before getting on the flights was how we tend to be people of judgement and we cannot just sit and observe but are constantly judging and commenting on behaviors, looks and actions in our mind.  I want to work on quieting my mind and just being open to new things and being patient in the Lord.  It is such a blessing to be here and I enjoy meeting everyone and especially talking with the students on their backgrounds, the testimonies on things they have been through and just learn about their cultures.  We get so wrapped up in our way as Americans and think that only our way is the right way and sometimes forget about the outside World.  God is so great in his work around the World and some of his miracles he does throughout the nations.  I later got to talk with a student from Ukraine who was the nicest man I have met and we talked about his class, church, his town and where I am from. “Dessert, cactus and hot.” I later found out he was a hardcore criminal who was locked up as a juvenile and moved to adult jail later where he came to know Christ and was saved.  You would have never guessed by meeting him and it shows just another one of God’s great miracles and how he has a plan for us all before we were born and sometimes the route we take is not what we expected.  I continue to struggle with this especially now with my future and what and where I should be headed and get frustrated sometimes that things are not happening right away.  This is the time that I must remember to pray and give it all up to the Lord and know that he has a door prepared for me just like he has been ever so faithful the last 23 years of my life.  I look forward to what more he has in store for me and I do surrender my whole body and life to him to do his work wherever and whenever he may lead me to do so.  It may be to continue to do what I am doing now or half way across the World but I am prepared to go wherever he may send me.  We also had a great appreciation day with stories about TCM and some great chocolates and cake for our after desert desert.  Such a blessing being here with the Professors, Staff and other Volunteers.

“I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”

Galatians 2:20