Relaxed and Ready to Reflect! :)

WOW I just had a BEAUTIFUL 3 days of relaxation and reflection. This is it. This is the end to a new beginning! God is SO good. How could I be SO blessed this summer? God has provided for me in every way unimaginable and beyond. He has answered prayers in better ways than I could expect for myself. He has opened my eyes to so many things I was blinded to. Praise the Lord!
I want to dedicate this blog to everything I have learned this summer. So much to share!

Where to begin. My 3 day retreat was amazing. We had the opportunity to share affirmations to each other and spend quality time together. I have been blessed with such AMAZING new friends. I would of never imagined to meet such beautiful people. I'm gonna miss everyone SO much! I know that this is not the end, but only the beginning to a new path for all of us! God is going to continue to connect us. I just know it! :)

SO i'm going to be very honest. At the beginning of this internship I was full of doubt and confusion. I was in doubt of what God could continue doing in my life. School left me feeling broken and confused. I knew I could not give up on God, and I needed to leave IL to grow up a bit and get away from the chaos. I prayed and trusted in God that this Cali internship was where He was calling me. Little did I know what I was getting myself into. Hahahaha.... God is good. SO good. :p

My time in East Palo Alto was amazing from the very beginning. All my friends were so positive and great. The staff at BCM was amazing. I felt SO welcomed immediately. I was challenged to grow in my relationship with God. I learned so much from my new friends/co-workers. I learned to really be comfortable as the man God had me into. God opened my eyes to the reality of serving in Urban Ministry. And the children....

The children at BCM taught me SO much about Gods love. I learned to love these kids despite how disrespectful they could be at times. This made me realize how much MORE God loves me. There are SO many more times when I am disrespectful to God and refuse to obey Him, yet He STILL loves me unconditionally! How could this be so? Our God is love. He paid the ultimate price by dying on the cross for me and you. That's how much He loves us!

My friends and BCM staff, they taught me to be more comfortable in who God had made me. They pushed me to grow deeper in my faith with the Lord. I was challenged to rely more on God and be joyful, hopeful, and at peace in every situation God has placed me in. A lot of prayer came from the BCM staff and I know God touched my heart. ULTIMATELY I think God taught me that I NEED to enjoy everyday that He gives me and not worry about tomorrow. I was so anxious in the beginning but by the end of the internship I saw God transform me into a WHOLE new person. I never have been so at peace about not knowing what tomorrow may bring. I am just hopeful and joyful in the Lord. God is good. He taught me His timing is better than my own. There is always a time of waiting and I know this is my time to wait on Him. God is going to be with me no matter where I am. He is holding my hand through everything and I know He is guiding me as I continue to trust in Him day by day. AND LAST everything I do I should do it to Glorify God!

I could keep rambling on and on, but I'm a bit lazy writing it all out. If you really want to know the nitty gritty details call me. I love to talk ;) God is good and this is not the end. Perhaps I will keep on blogging as I enter a new chapter of my life. I can't wait to see all the new things God has in store for me. This journey is SO much more fun not knowing whats ahead! God is spontaneous and always good no matter what! All glory and honor to the Lord for this wonderful summer!

It is FINISHED!!!

Last night was the closing Banquet to Summer 2012 S.A.I.L! The kids did such an amazing job at performing. My kids pulled themselves together, and we baked a BUNCH of Chocolate Chip cookies and made TONS of Rice Krispie Treats. God is SO good! I thought I was gonna strangle a few kids hours before the banquet, but I looked up to God, made a quick prayer to get through, and by the time I knew it I was smiling and laughing at their performances.
So saying goodbye to the kids is never easy, but my 3 girls all left so quickly before and after the banquet. I didn't quite get a chance to say goodbye, but at least I got to give them a letter about how much I am going to miss them. I DID get a chance to hug some of my banquet workshop kids good bye. I'm gonna miss these crazy kids. A lot of them cried. It was heart breaking to watch them tear up. :*)

Everyone I can't believe the program is over....This means I ONLY have ONE more week left with my fellow interns/friends. Goodbye's among  this group will be the hardest for me. I really feel like we have really gotten to know each other so well. It's Amazing how the beauty of God will capture a group of young college students learning to become adults in this crazy world to work and grow in His love together. God is SO good and has blessed me with such great new friends. I am blessed and I know this really isn't goodbye. This is just the beginning to something big, great, and amazing God has for each and every one of us.

So later on today I will be going back to the building and the whole crew will be cleaning up the building. This means I have to take all my class stuff down. Reality is gonna really hit me later this afternoon. I am so thankful for being in EPA this summer. Perhaps later after I am back from my retreat I will blog about what I have really learned this summer..... ;)