I look around and am surrounded by an array of colorful trees painted all over the city. The leaves are more than just green and I have yet to see a single cactus since my arrival to Japan. Starbucks locations are all over Japan– because nothing screams fall quite like a pumpkin spice latte.
I never fully had a chance to experience all of the seasons growing up. The desert either plagued you with HOT wind or COLD wind. Summer temperatures easily soar into the 100’s. The cool lake water was sometimes your only relief from the blistering heat. The winters were cold. Snow resorts were less than an hour in both directions. Hesperia could usually squeeze one good snow a year, enough for everyone to forget how to drive and for all the kids to get out of school.
Shortly after moving to Ventura for college, I realized Ventura had one season– sunny and 75. On the off chance it isn’t sunny, it’s probably raining and everyone loves it. The thoughts of missing out on seasons melted away when I spent my Christmas afternoon playing beach volleyball with my roommates.
I am in the midst of fall here in Osaka, Japan. The leaves are turning every color and the days have been rainy. The air is cool and the days are shorter.
I caught a glimpse of the leaves falling and thought to myself how beautiful it was. Then it occurred to me that I am seeing beauty in death. The leaves are falling to the ground because they are dead. The vast majority of the leaves on the ground are brown and dead, just waiting to be picked up or decompose. Yet there is such beauty in the end of a season. The beauty doesn’t lie in leaves falling, but the process of change to get to the point they are at.
This year is a season of fall for me. I came on this trip because I had plateaued. I wanted more of Jesus. The American dream simply wasn’t enough for me. I was at a place where I needed to see change. I needed to be challenged. I needed to leave an era of death and defeat. I continued living in a city where I had experienced the most detrimental life event that has happened to me. I was surrounded by people who saw me lose one of my biggest heroes, but didn’t know him personally. I stayed because I was afraid to leave.
2 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
I left Ventura because I wanted more. I wanted to put aside a year to set the foundation of my faith for the rest of my life. I was called and I answered.
So this is my season of fall.
God has already begun a huge work in this season. In the short amount of time I have been gone I have started to see my true identity in Him. I would love to tell you that I didn’t need this year, but I do. The further I enter this season, the more I realize how much more I need Jesus on a daily basis.
The real beauty is that after the fall, there is a new season arising. As of now I do not know what God has on the horizon for my future. The world race has taught me that I don’t need to know everything so far in advanced. I don’t even know what my ministry will look like next month and that is okay. I don’t know where God has me in the future and that too is okay. The bulbs have been planted, but I don’t know what flowers are to bloom come the end of this season.
Psalm 30:5 “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning.”
I see joy in this season of growth. I am beyond thankful that God has placed me here. The people who surround me– they challenge me, question me, and are helping me grow into a completely new person. I am joyful because the person who comes back to America next July, she won’t be the same as the girl who left.
Surrounded by my team in the midst of fall here in Japan. I am so thankful for their love over me.
Currently I am $700 away from being fully funded. I only have 5% left to fundraise of my total goal. I am blown away by the support of you. I could not ask for a better family back home. I am so thankful for your prayers and financial support!
With much love,
Laura
