Peace That Passes ALL Understanding

What a whirlwind! One month ago my life was in California--serving God in an amazing church, leading worship, and loving on an awesome youth group. I had a good-looking apartment, a dependable car, the company of a rambunctious cat named Henry, and the blessing of many wonderful friends and "family". I had a great life.

Presently, I find myself living in a new "great life" 1500 miles down the road from California. Though I'm technically back home in Nebraska, the details of my life are fresh and new. I'm living at the Lincoln People's City Mission where I'll serve as missionary for one year. I said goodbye to my dependable car on which I was still making payments and said hello to a mini-van owned by the Mission. My buddy, Henry is living the good life with my parents and my sister, and the possibility of soon forging new friendships looks promising. And of course, I've been reunited with my family, who I LOVE!

As I reflect on the life I've left behind, and look forward to the unfolding of the coming year, I have such a calm about me that I am sure I must be experiencing the "peace that surpasses all understanding". I regularly have moments when I think to myself, or say out loud to anyone within earshot, "Should I be freaking out now?" or "Is it time to cry?" I've been through many transitions in my 25 years, and with each transition usually comes tears--tears of fear, tears of anxiety, tears of sadness over old memories. This time around, all I can feel is peace. This can only be from God!

I only wish you could all have the opportunity to step into my new life for a day--to experience the joy of this new place, see the Spirit at work among the staff and guests, to join in authentic worship of our Savior with people of every color and background, and hear the holy roar of voices raised to God in unity. There is something very special about this place. I can already feel God using my time here to fill, heal, and refresh me.

So far, my time at the mission has been spent:

1. leading worship at the Filling Station (daily chapel for staff and guests) and at Sunday church
2. playing with kids at Club E.D.E.F.Y.
3. sitting in on casework
4. helping in the family shelter
5. teaching classes
6. holding babies :)
7. being interviewed on Pastor Thom's radio show (the Administrative Director of the mission)
8. learning about domestic violence, mental illness, and drug abuse
9. building relationships with guests
10. starting the groundwork for The Backyard Mission Experience (a program that will give young people an opportunity to interface with the homeless as they sleep, eat, serve and grow at the mission for a week, a month, or a year!)

Here's a few pictures and stories from the last few weeks:
















Marina holding baby Jaylie. Marina was scoping out my room the other day--fishing through my toiletries and jewelry, when she found something she REALLY wanted! She walked over to me with my contacts in hand and said with her sweet Sudanese accent, "Kin ah poot deese in mah ahs?" She has yet to forget about those contacts :)















Chonrell (on the left) is my shadow :)




















Grace and Grace! The first time we met, Grace said to me, "Hey, you stole my name!", to which I responded, "I think I was born first!" We thought we were so funny, we've repeated this conversation many times since then.















This is Johnny. We get along great, but his true love is Natalie :) She came out to help me with the kids yesterday and Johnny fell in love with her right away. "Your sister is cute," he said to me with a grin. But of course, Johnny sees more in Natalie than just her good looks. He also thinks she is a great drawer and that she makes the best bubble letters!

Now, may you "...experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:7