Today, I am feeling guilty because I haven’t written anything on this blog for over a month. January has been really busy, but not too busy to post something! Forgive me, if you’re in the habit of reading this story of mine, because I have been lazy. Jangan malas (Don’t be lazy)!! What’s coming in the next month though, is a whirlwind of funny stories, life lessons, and some photographs (I hope, yet to be taken) of my life. So much of that has been swirling around in my head, and it is time to get it down in writing.
Today was a kick-start for the blog. Today was a day that I’ve been thinking about for a long time.
Well, let me back up for a minute.
We’ve been studying this wonderful language here for three months. We finished on Friday. We finished on Friday!!! That doesn’t mean I’m done learning, but the formal classroom language school is over. We actually went out for ice cream during our final evaluation, ordered it ourselves, and talked with some people. Later that night, we went over to our language teacher (also good friend)’s house for a sleep over…complete with TV! Haha, it had been a long time since I’d watched TV. And wouldn’t you know? White Collar was playing. Father just knows what we need all the time. (Yes, I like TV. Sue me!) Anyways, that was a huge milestone. 3 months of language study. Over? I still can’t believe it. I can’t wait until I wake up on Monday and I don’t have to walk down the street and hail a becak and go to school.
But, in some ways, I can wait. Because the end of language school meant Rachel was leaving to go to her final destination. And it meant my constant companion for the last 4 months was not going to be here anymore. So in a lot of ways, I didn’t want it to end. Of course, the end came. My mom used to quote Hope Floats to me a lot…
Beginnings are scary. Endings are usually sad. But it’s the middle that counts the most…
Thanks, Mom. Those are some very true words. We took Rach to the airport this morning.
It was a sweet and hard goodbye. But you know, I’ve seen His faithfulness over and over and over again, and I know that I will continue to. So while I’ll be once again finding a “new normal,” I know that He provides. The beginning was scary. The ending was sad.
The middle counted the most.
After a sweet and emotion-full morning, tonight we all gather together. There was so much joy in tonight for so many reasons, but one thing a dear friend said really stuck with me. Of course, it comes from the Word.
Trust in the Father, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
- Psalm 37:3
That’s really a packed verse. Trust. Do good. Live where you are. Befriend faithfulness. Sounds a lot like what I’ve been saying to myself lately in a different way – just walk. Intentionality has be swirling around in my head lately. Best friend says there are two types of people. Those who know and those who don’t. We walk in a manner worthy, in a manner that points every person closer to the Truth. To befriend faithfulness.
So in as much as I can say on this blog, with so much more in my heart, those 4 things are my desire in this season of life.
Trust.
Do.
Dwell.
Befriend.
Today was a kick-start for the blog. Today was a day that I’ve been thinking about for a long time.
Well, let me back up for a minute.
We’ve been studying this wonderful language here for three months. We finished on Friday. We finished on Friday!!! That doesn’t mean I’m done learning, but the formal classroom language school is over. We actually went out for ice cream during our final evaluation, ordered it ourselves, and talked with some people. Later that night, we went over to our language teacher (also good friend)’s house for a sleep over…complete with TV! Haha, it had been a long time since I’d watched TV. And wouldn’t you know? White Collar was playing. Father just knows what we need all the time. (Yes, I like TV. Sue me!) Anyways, that was a huge milestone. 3 months of language study. Over? I still can’t believe it. I can’t wait until I wake up on Monday and I don’t have to walk down the street and hail a becak and go to school.
But, in some ways, I can wait. Because the end of language school meant Rachel was leaving to go to her final destination. And it meant my constant companion for the last 4 months was not going to be here anymore. So in a lot of ways, I didn’t want it to end. Of course, the end came. My mom used to quote Hope Floats to me a lot…
Beginnings are scary. Endings are usually sad. But it’s the middle that counts the most…
Thanks, Mom. Those are some very true words. We took Rach to the airport this morning.
It was a sweet and hard goodbye. But you know, I’ve seen His faithfulness over and over and over again, and I know that I will continue to. So while I’ll be once again finding a “new normal,” I know that He provides. The beginning was scary. The ending was sad.
The middle counted the most.
After a sweet and emotion-full morning, tonight we all gather together. There was so much joy in tonight for so many reasons, but one thing a dear friend said really stuck with me. Of course, it comes from the Word.
Trust in the Father, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
- Psalm 37:3
That’s really a packed verse. Trust. Do good. Live where you are. Befriend faithfulness. Sounds a lot like what I’ve been saying to myself lately in a different way – just walk. Intentionality has be swirling around in my head lately. Best friend says there are two types of people. Those who know and those who don’t. We walk in a manner worthy, in a manner that points every person closer to the Truth. To befriend faithfulness.
be·friend/biˈfrend/That’s what I want to do. Befriend faithfulness. I want to act as a friend to faithfulness by offering help or support. Help it. Aid it. Give it opportunity to grow in the lives of people and in my own life. Walk intentionally. I want to faithfulness to the Father to be cultivated in me as I walk with Him over the next year or so. And the overflow…well, I want it to make an impact in lives here. It’s interesting the order that these four things come in. The most interesting, in my opinion, is that trust comes first and foremost. After that, the others follow.
Verb: Act as a friend to (someone) by offering help or support.
Synonyms: assist – help – aid – support
So in as much as I can say on this blog, with so much more in my heart, those 4 things are my desire in this season of life.
Trust.
Do.
Dwell.
Befriend.
Congratulations on your finishing 3 months of language study! What a wonderful milestone. We are getting excited about coming back home. See you soon! I'll give Canton an 'ol shout-out for you.
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