For I minute I thought I was back in Nepal. This room looked just like a coffee shop I went to where I was there. As I walked to my seat I found myself admiring the different paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling. I love paper lanterns, but of course that is the reason why they were there.
He knows my likes and dislikes. He knows how to make me smile. On that day I was smiling.
As I sat down on the comfy orange (my favorite color) chair that was waiting for me, he says “I know you don’t like coffee so I ordered you a chai tea.” I can’t help but giggle, the joy inside me just bubbling over. I then ask what he was drinking. “Coffee” he replied.
I proceeded to ask him what his favorite kind of coffee was. His response was unexpected but still very fitting. He told me he doesn’t have a favorite, but that he likes to drink all the different types from all over the globe. He also said he likes it black, “to taste the fullness of it.”
The rest of the date proceeded like this. Regardless of if we were engaged in playful banter or having a serious moment, the conversation was easy. It was like I had known him my whole life. In a way he had.
After a while I was ready to go, to move on to the next part of our date. “So where do you want to go next?” I asked. “I want to stay right here. There is nowhere else I want to go today. I just want us to get to know each other more.”
I was a little shocked, honestly. Having just come from a place where he had revealed so much, and knowing how much more needed to be done, I assumed this was just a short stop on our way to the next thing he wanted to reveal.
“Karen I just want to spend some time with you. It has been a little while. I want you to trust me with this enough that you know I mean you no harm. I just want to see you grow. I want to help you grow. We do have more places to go, more places I want to bring healing. But today I just want to spend time with you.”
So Jesus and I proceeded to talk. We talked about little things, like why I am enjoying the TV show I have been watching and what things I look for in a guy. We laughed, oh did we laugh. It was a good date.
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I love having time with Jesus like that. Those moments where physically I am laying on the floor in my room, but spiritually He has taken me somewhere else. I can tangibly feel him there. We have open conversations in that place.
I am still learning so much in these times with Jesus. I know that is never going to end, but there is something about this community I am living in now that makes it different. The people I am surrounded with are not afraid to call me out on things when they see I need to grow. They do not shy away from the hard conversations and keep me accountable to what I say I am going to do.
It makes me sad that soon I am going to have to leave this type of community and try to build my own. While community has not always been easy over the last two years, I have been surrounded by people who wanted it, and that always makes it easier.
What would make things worse is if I had to leave this community even earlier than I anticipated.
I am risk of that happening. I have about $600 left to raise for my time here in CGA. My last deadline is coming up on November 12th. If I do not have the money by then, conversations will be had about my continuation in the program.
At this time I am looking for 1 time gifts. Maybe you cannot give a lot.Maybe you think that your $5 donation is not going to do me any good. That is not true! Every dollar counts!
If you would like to partner with me to keep me in Georgia these last two months there are a few ways you can do it:
The first is online giving. This is the easiest and fastest way to give. Just click here and fill out the information.
The second way to give is to mail in a check. You can mail a check made out to Adventures in Missions to:
Adventures in Missions
P.O. Box 742570
Atlanta, GA 30374-2570
The memo line should read: Karen Aiello CGA
I thank you for all your support over the last two years!
