A tribute to a wonderful woman...

Grandma,

I would not be the person I am today if it were not for you always believing in me and encouraging me to be the person you knew I could be; the person God called me to be. You’ve taught me so many lessons about life and love. Every part of your life was overflowing with the love you had for God and His people. You were always willing to help others even when that meant simply listening. And you always brought a smile to the faces of those you encountered, whether it was with your banana bread, cookies, birthday cards or kind and encouraging words. Your encouragement in my life has shaped who I am. You never told me that my dreams were unattainable; rather you encouraged me to keep seeking out God’s dreams and plans for my life. When I decided to go to Africa, you were beside me every step of the way, encouraging me to keep on going. Grandma, your encouraging words and use of Scriptures to help guide me meant more than words can express. I will miss that.

Every moment I was privileged to spend with you was a moment filled with love and joy. My favorite memories of you and me are when we would decorate cookies and cakes together or bake yummy banana bread. But it wasn’t just baking, it was a time for laughter and getting to know each other better. And I loved going places with you, not because of the things we went to do or see, but because we always had a good time and you always made me feel loved. I can truly say that spending time with you was one of my favorite things to do. You will be greatly missed.

More than anything I’ll miss your warm hugs. Your hugs were filled with love and tenderness and compassion, and many times it felt as though I was being hugged by an angel. But, truth is, I was. You were and will always be an angel to me, and I thank you for being such a blessing in my life. You’ve touched my heart and my life in more ways than you’ll ever know. Thank you.

I love you Grandma!

Oh, and I'll really miss buying you any and every pig that I see. ;)

Sense of community

I have been learning a lot about the importance of community lately. Ever since I got back from SA I’ve been feeling like some major component of my life has been missing. And recently I’ve realized that I’ve been lacking community in my life. When I was in South Africa, I lived and worked with the same 20 people every day. But when I got back to the States that sense of community seemed to disappear almost over night. Not seeing the same people daily and knowing that I didn’t have that community to fall back (physically) on was tough. And when I came home to a place where many friends had left or moved on with their lives, it was even more difficult. But I let it slide. I told myself I was fine with just communicating with my SA friends even though we are scattered all over the country, and the world for that matter. But to tell you the truth, that hasn’t really worked out the way I’d imagined. I don’t talk to my fellow interns nearly as much as I had hoped to, as we all have busy lives and schedules. And I haven’t allowed myself to reconnect with the community in which I now live, which has left me feeling rather lonely. I love people, but at the same time I don’t want them to see me struggle. Yet I know that I need those close friendships in my life that challenge me and allow me to challenge others.

So last night I finally decided to step out and do something that I had been dreading to do…go to Connexion, the college ministry at my church. Just the thought of going to a place where I didn’t know anybody was terrifying. I had let that fear keep me from attending for far too long. But I think it’s just what I had been needing. The worship was amazing, Dan’s message was challenging, and the small group time was great. I met some new people who I connected with right away and feel like the small group I ended up in was the perfect one for me. The group was very welcoming and made me feel like part of their community. There’s just something about being in fellowship with the body of Christ that makes me feel alive. I can’t wait to go back next week and continue to build those relationships as we grow together in Christ.