Community.
True community.
Have you ever asked yourself what this looks like? What it requires? What it really means?
I have to tell you, friends, God has been teaching me so much about community lately. The friendships I have been blessed with this summer have been rich, deeply rooted in the commitment to pursue God, spilling over into an urgency to encourage another to pursue God at the same time. I feel like a newborn baby who has just discovered its hand. I hold it up in wonder, flexing and extending my fingers, marveling at the complexity of the nerves and bone and muscle and skin. In this way I am discovering my ability to live, to love, to pursue God-centered and God-glorifying relationships with those around me. I marvel at how God has allowed me to trust, despite being wounded; to love, despite being rejected; to heal, despite feeling maimed beyond repair. It’s like I am breathing for the first time–deep, gasping breaths that fill up my lungs until they nearly explode, and I can feel the oxygen move through my blood like electricity down to my toes. Praise Jesus for community, for a body of believers who love and encourage and support, through the messy and the beautiful. May I no longer seek surface relationships, but rather pursue my Creator and my brothers and sisters in Christ in a way that is deep and true, painful and heartbreaking, vulnerable yet oh so soul-affirming.
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Wow, how I’ve been blessed today! The Jacobs, some friends of the family that date back to…well, before I was born!…came over for food & fellowship. I have to tell you, it was so refreshing to see them again. The last time I saw their entire family together was probably 8 years ago due to their move to Idaho, so a get-together was long overdue. Little Autumn (who really isn’t little anymore at the grown-up age of 10) was my buddy for the day, and an excellent helper in setting up MY NEW TENT!! I’ve had this sucker for a couple of weeks now, but wanted to share the excitement of setting it up for the first time with someone special. I couldn’t have asked for a better special someone than Autumn!
Although the tent is designed for less-than-five-minute setup, I am not exactly a camper, much less an engineer, so it took me a little while to figure out exactly how everything was supposed to fit together. Autumn kept saying, “Let’s go get my dad, he’ll know how to do it!” I, of course, in my stubbornness, wanted to figure it out myself in order to be as prepared as possible when it comes pitching this new home of mine every month, so Autumn and I fought through by ourselves. After a 15-minute-or-so struggle, the tent stood alone in all its glory. I was SO excited.
Originally I had planned to set up my tent, take a few pictures, post them on my blog, and write up a little something about how I had some of my gear but needed a lot more before I leave in September, and ask for my faithful blog-readers to lift this need up in prayer. Basically I have been praying for the past several weeks that the Lord would provide me with the financial means to purchase this gear, the cost of which is not included in the amount that goes to AIM for all my other expenses. I’ve also been stressing (just a teensy bit) about meeting my first support deadline…June 16th…because I’m still around $1,200 short. And of course, silly me, I forget that God has everything under control!
So come to find out, the reason why Autumn kept saying “let’s go get my dad!” was because Mr. Jacobs is an avid backpacker. Who knew?! After he came outside and saw my tent, he was able to give me some awesome advice about backpacking and all the ins & outs that only a pro could know. Long story short, Mr. Jacobs ended up offering the opportunity for me to visit his home, take a look through the gear he isn’t using anymore, and borrow what I need! What a huge answer to prayer. I’m going to go ahead and keep the tent that I have (cause I got it for a steal), but I’m thinking I will probably be able to take back the sleeping bag & pad I have already purchased to be able to use one of his instead. Nearly $200 saved! Man, the Lord is so good. I know my next support deadline is approaching fast, but with blessings such as these it’s hard to get worried. Be in prayer with me, friends, that this peace would last, and that the Lord would bring in the funds I need as He sees fit. Love you all!
Autumn and I in my new tent. She was such an awesome helper!
Home sweet home for 11 months 🙂
Testing out the new mummy sleeping bag. Sweet!
Trying on my backpack…gotta love candids! Thank you, Mr. McAfee, for this pack. I love it already! Now if I can only figure out how to fit everything I need for a year inside…
