Reality Check

I wasn’t planning on blogging until Thursday afternoon or Friday morning when I was all packed and ready to go. It mid-terms week at GV and all my professors decided they wanted to squeeze everything in before we leave for spring break. I’ve been praying that God keep me organized, focused and sane this week and that amongst all of the chaos he continue preparing my heart for the adventure that awaits me in the upcoming week.

Lately God has been teaching me a lot about the power of prayer. He keeps reminding me that he has the desire to answer our prayers when they are aligned with his will.  Through the “Spread the Love” campaign with Cru the past four weeks I was sincerely humbled as I put aside all my needs and wants to pray for the hearts and lives of my peers. I learned that prayer has no boundaries or limitations. This afternoon I read a forwarded letter from the Agape staff in Rotterdam explaining the wonderful ways God is working through the students on their campus. It mentioned how excited they were to be hosting our group and teaming up with us in the name of Christ.  The letter was asking for prayer for our safety and that God grant us conversation to change the hearts of the students we meet. To know that there are people I’ve never met, across the world praying for me and my group members just overwhelmed me. I was overcome with the realization that I am going to be on the front lines for God in a new culture next week. It is comforting to know that Agape students and staff are praying the same prayer I’ve been in regards to preparing my heart for my experience.

I can’t put into words my exact feeling towards our trip, but as it draws closer my excitement and nervousness seem to be proportionally escalating. I am excited to get to know some wonderful people and work together to share the love and light Christ offers. I was asking for a challenge and God presented me with a big one. I expect and am excited to be stretched and to grow in my faith and strengthen our community along the way.

~Jessica