*This is a
blog I wrote last week, as I was packing and preparing to leave my apartment.
As
I look around my room with no photographs or paintings, a handful of clothes in
the closet, and half-packed boxes scattered across the floor, a surreal feeling
comes over me. This no longer looks like my home. It is bittersweet to be
leaving a home that I love in order to embrace a new type of “home” and
community.
The
Lord has tremendously blessed my time at 5520 (my apartment). Even before
moving in, the Lord spoke to Steph (my roommate) and told her that our home
would be a place of ministry- a place where people could come and be, a place
of rest, and a place of community.
The
Lord stayed true to His word and 5520 became a center of community living. In
the course of the year, we had 5 different people living in our 2-bedroom
apartment. We hosted 2 Bible study groups, 3 big holiday parties, countless
dinners and lunches, and had friends over almost every night of the week.
5520
was constantly filled with laughter and conversation. The Lord blessed our home
and showed His abundant provision as we continued to open our doors. For
several months the Lord provided free food from every direction because we
began to pray “Lord we will continue to feed people in our home as long as You
will continue to provide the food- groceries for this many people are becoming
more than we can afford.” And for months, as long as we invited people over,
the Lord brought us free food at least 2-4 times a week. Praise Him for His
abundant provision!
It
is in this apartment that I have learned about community and about allowing
people to “disrupt” your life. I have been blessed beyond measure, laughed
until I cried, and have built amazing friendships. It is bittersweet saying
goodbye to my home and life here in order to embark on this next incredible adventure.
