Almost a year later...

So almost a year ago I posted my last blog. I meant to keep up with this - so I'll try to keep up with it better from now on. It's been quite a year.

On my last post, I remember that I said something about going back to Brazil. That I did - last March - and I'm saving up for my next trip & seminary - through checking people out at the lovely local Kmart.

Throughout the year - if I were to tell you what happened with a few sentences - it would probably be something like this - I began the year hopeful - wanting to make the best of everything that came my way. Not everything that came this year was good... but not everything bad. My Sophomore year of college began and soon I'll be in my 2nd semester of it. Two people who I was close to passed on to be with our Lord. Ms. Sue Newcomer and Mrs. Joyce McIntosh. These were both ladies who went to my church that I grew rather close to. Ms. Sue Newcomer and I had gotten so close together - that I had a house key and was over at her house 3+ times a week... including before her death... She was a best friend to me. It seems like I have a tenancy to loose best friends. They get mad and leave, or the stop talking to me for no apparent reason... or they die. However, dying, while it's hard on all of us who get left behind, for these two wonderful ladies, I know for sure I'll see them again in Heaven. Without a doubt. A friend of mine moved in with us about 2 years ago... and she had a baby. For the first half of the semester I had a small child to help take care of.. for the last half I was helping Sue out for extended periods.. up until her death. So it would probably be an understatement that this semester was hard. My grades fell... I started with 5 classes... I dropped 2, failed one... and wound up with 2 B's. All of that drama, seems to just be the major points, but of course there's always more - some of which I won't share to the whole world - even though the people who this involves will probably never see this post - because no matter how many times I post it, they're just not interested in reading something I write - even if I do sum it all up into some sort of devotional.

While all of that is super hard - I'm reminded that God is always in control. I know that's one thing I'm going to need to learn how to count on if I wind up on the mission field - completely dependent on Him. No matter what we go through, we need to believe that God will get us through it, and he has a plan - even if we REALLY don't like that plan. I know that's a tough one to believe, but what would happen if we really did trust that God knew what He was doing? Life might be easier. I know it's easier said than done... but we have to remember Romans 8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose. "

So there is a purpose in all of this.

In conclusion - my advice to you would be to hold on with everything you have... and attempt to make a b-line towards the Father.