Hi friends! I’m so glad you’re here. It has been over 2 weeks since I left for Gap Year, and time is flying. The Lord has done so many incredible things within this past week. First a few updates about my day to day life here:
We’ve gotten into a solid rhythm here on campus, and that includes tons of time in devotionals, sermons, worship, and just hanging out with my new community. I’m learning a lot about what it means to prioritize Jesus throughout the day, and living a life of discipleship. We’ve had to move in and out of our camp sites a few times due to storms, and I feel like a true backpacker after all the times I’ve frantically stuffed my belongings into such a tiny space. But our team sleepovers filled with worship circles and prayer have definitely made it worth my while.
Throughout this week the Lord has show me more about who He is, and made me rethink the way I understand some of the Bible. The parable of the mustard seed from Matthew 17 has come up a lot recently, and I realized I never truly understood what Jesus meant by it. I thought, why would the Lord desire us to have “faith as small as a mustard seed”? Doesn’t that mean we have little faith? Why would the Lord be glad in our miniscule belief? I then listened to a podcast on the subject, and the pastor reminded me that in Israel, mustard seeds overtake mountainsides, growing in between rocks, and even strangle out the larger seeded plants in their path. When Jesus referred to the mustard seed, he was pointing to a faith that is unceasing, and relentless against obstacles that try to cut down our belief. Even though it starts off small, that tiny bit of faith is all Jesus needs to move mountains in our lives.
And finally, the bit of news you’ve been waiting for! As many of you may know, Louisiana has been hit by a bad hurricane. People’s homes are flooded or broken, and many are struggling to protect all that is left before they can get insurance coverage. My squad has been given the privilege to go to these areas for one week on October 3rd. We will be working with Samaritan’s Purse to repair some of the damage that the hurricane has caused. I feel incredibly grateful for what the Lord will do in this situation. I would love prayers for the families affected by this hurricane, and that many would find the Lord amidst their hardship.
Stayed tuned for updates and stories about our Louisiana trip! Thank you so much for reading??
