A few Sunday’s ago I said goodbye to my pastor and his family. Then, on that Thursday I had a friend over to our apartment for the last time. Friday I said goodbye to my students. On Saturday I walked out of AAC for the last time. On Sunday I went to my last service at CIPC. And on Monday, I walked out of my apartment for the last time after spending absolutely as much time enjoying the Casablanca weather on our balcony each night leading up to it. Needless to say, it’s been an emotional past few weeks.
After leaving my home in Casablanca on Monday, I began rereading The Hobbit. It’s one of the books the World Race recommends we read, and it has been awesome to find the connections that can be made with Tolkien’s story. The last thing Bilbo Baggins wants to do is leave the comfort of his hobbit hole in the peaceful Shire. However, adventures await him once he leaves and his life is changed forever (as are the lives of others because of this).
I think the hardest part of leaving Casablanca is leaving the comfort of everything I know. I enjoyed living there, had a decent job, a great apartment, and the security of being able to come back to the States each summer- it’s the only life I really know as an adult, moving to Morocco right after college. However, I know that in order to fulfill God’s plan for my life, I need to leave Casablanca, at least for a season. I am so excited to be able to spend a year serving others, and I can’t wait to see how God will use the World Race to change me (and in turn others). I would love to go back to Morocco eventually, if that’s in God’s plan for my life, but I know wherever I go next, the World Race will have prepared me for whatever God has in store.
“Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing,” (Ephesians 2:7-10 MSG).
I came across this translation this week, and I love the part where we are reminded that “He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does.” I will miss Morocco, but I do know that I have this promise; wherever I am, I will be focused on the work God has ready for me.
The title of this blog has to do with a favorite song of mine lately, which I think so well describes the experiences and opportunities God has placed in my life. Take a listen! 🙂
