Summer Experience

So I have arrived at the end of summer with only one week left of work before I head back home to Indiana. This summer has been a great experience and I have learned a lot about living on my own and taking care of expenses. This is my first time that I have had to actually buy my own food, pay for housing expenses, among other things. It’s been fun though, traveling a little, getting to meet lots of people, and living on the coast.

My spiritual side has been a roller coaster this summer, as I found it hard to get into the word and into a routine prayer life. When at school I’m constantly challenged by my friends to stay strong in my faith. Its also easier being at a Christian University where it is much easier to discuss issues with faith and it is somewhat expected.

But through all the struggles, I have become stronger. In order to grow we have to experience some struggles. I have learned how God uses things to bring us back to fully trusting Him. It’s been a good experience to learning how to challenge myself to stay close to God and not rely so much on friends to keep me close to God.

It’s been great getting to talk with so many people though. I have had many great conversations with people. It’s also been fun getting to know the guys that I work with. Working with each other for 4 months, I have been able to develop some good relationships with guys and now I have connections all over the country, which is always good.

But my next semester has been changed so many times throughout the summer. As many of you know I was planning on attending Focus on the Family Institute next semester. I missed a meeting in the spring for study abroad students so I was not able to attend. At first I was angry with IWU and extremely disappointed with not being able to attend. Now though, I’m so excited to be back at IWU. God knows what He is doing and I think I will get so much more out of it next year. I’m so excited for all that God has planned this next semester. I even got into the lodges after everything, which is exciting.

Going to Costa Rica was such a good experience for me. Through this experience I have felt that God is calling me overseas. I do not know if this call is for a lifetime or just for a year or two, but I have felt called to overseas missions. We’ll see where this call leads and boy am I excited to see what God has in store for me over this semester. Through all the things that have happened regarding this next semester, I know God has big things in store for me.

So I thank all of you for your many prayers and your support over the summer. All of you have meant so much to me and have all been a big part of my growth over the past year. To those of you that presented challenges to me and letters of encouragement, thank you so much. It’s been such a great experience, but I’m ready to see you all again. Until then, take care!!

Life on the Coast!

So it's been a little while since I have written, so I figured I''ll write a little about how things are going.

So I moved to Wilmington, NC this past Sunday, excited to be by the coast, but ready to be home. I'm still ready for school to start, excited for what the semester has in store for me. But I can't say that I hate living here. Our apartments are about 7 miles from the beach, and there is all kinds of things to do here. I have been to the beach every day since getting here, and I plan on going everyday till I leave. Here is how the past 2 days have went. Wake up at 8:30, go to the beach till around noon, come home, eat some lunch, take a nap till around 4 or 5 when someone gets a job, go to the job, work till about 9, come home, eat, and sleep. Ah, what a tough life.

But as great as it is to life here I struggle to find time for God. It's something that has been a struggle all summer. I really don't have those right here to challenge me in this area. That's one reason I'm ready to be at school, I find it easier to stay up on my devos, and to have those good faith talks. But I'm excited for the ways God is going to work this semester. The thing I'm most excited for is to go through The Truth Project again. That has been one of the biggest tools that has helped my growth over the past year. Even now, I think back to that and am still discovering new things through what was presented to me in those videos. I feel that God has some purpose for me not being able to go to Focus this semester. So that's what's up with me! Peace out!!

Half way through summer!

So here I am, halfway through my summer experience. It's been so good for me to experience life on my own , and life away from the Christian environment. It's the first time in my life that I've really been outside the bubble and have had to really challenge myself.

Over the summer I've definitely struggled to read the Bible and pray. This has always been a struggle for me and that struggle has only increased by being here. I never really have time on my own, which at this point in the summer is really hard. I'm a guy that loves to just relax on my own and out in nature. Living in the city makes that hard to do, and working all the time. Working six days a week is starting to take it's toll on me. My body is starting to fall apart, and spiritually I have really been hurting.

This past week has been especially hard on me. Last weekend was great, going to Carmen's house was really good and really gave me a spiritual boost. Now though I've crashed and I'm ready to be home. Emotionally I've been struggling, physically I haven't been taking care of myself, and spiritually I am far from where I need to be. Right now I just feel like I'm not really having an impact on anyone and right now I really have the desire to do missions full time. I really do not know where God wants me in the future, but lately I've been feeling that I need to be in full time missions.

I know that God can use me in a mighty way, but I get down on myself so easily that many times this gets in the way. I struggle with self-doubt a lot and I let my mind take me down and that is one of the ways Satan attacks me.

So right now I'm really struggling to find where God wants me to go and how I can best be a disciple for Him. God has taught me a lot this summer, though I have not done a good job staying in communication with Him. It's been a great experience and a good way to get out of the bubble. I know God will use this experience and will continue to work in me.