Love so amazing

When I was responding to an e-mail a few minutes ago, I started filling in a friend of mine on some of the things I have been doing this semester.  And as I did, I realized all of the things I have actually been doing, and the things I do every week.  I know I have been told that I took on too much, and I did have to let some things go this term, but what I had and do have is not the point.  The point, I realized, was the wonderful opportunity I have been given to be able to do these things.  To be exposed to such wonderful opportunities - ministries, communities, etc.  We have a wonderful Christian community here at my school, and a great connection to it is our Chapel-going community.  It's so amazing to be able to worship every morning during the week, and to be a member on one of the Praise teams that takes turns performing for the special services on Fridays.  I think after having been exposed to this for some months now I may have started to take it for granted, and it shouldn't be.  This term especially with some of the things happening around the subject of Chapel have really gotten my fired up, and I am so protective of that time.  It's booked away, and if I have to miss it for some reason, I'm usually not a happy camper.  And when I do miss it, there is usually some part of me that feels off for the day.  It's so much a part of me, and while that makes me vulnerable in a way, it's also  so incredible.  Being able to travel with a team to bring Christ's love to others this term was such a life-changing experience as well.  There was a lot of prep-work involved, and I wasn't even a leader - I can only imagine the stress they were under.  But it all worked out by the Grace of God, and it was amazing.  Absolutely beyond words.  It was in so many ways nothing I expected, but everything I needed.  Our director mentioned in one of the meetings that last time he went His intent was to be a blessing to others through the sharing of God's love, but that he felt others ended up blessing him, instead.  I thought it touching, but wasn't exactly sure what he meant.  I do now.  I cannot wait to go on another trip next year - you'll probably still hear me talk about it until then, too.  Discovering different congregations up here has been such a blessing to me, also.  To see how they worship - it's been something I've talked about quite a bit now.  Worship up here is different than what I'm used to.  Even the more traditional churches have many differences, such as what they wear, how they act, etc.  The first time I went to church up here I was absolutely blown out of my mind.  Everything was different.  The people, the community, the music, the service format, the building style - you name it; it was different.  It was so far beyond my comfort zone that I thought I might explode on the spot.  I didn't like how they had next to no traditional music, and it was overwhelming how many people wanted to say hello and see who I was, where I was from, where I went to school, etc.  I went to that church twice, with some time in-between, and then ended up trying a different church with someone who went to the previous one.  We both loved traditional service, both lived in dorm, and gave it a shot - we loved it.  We stayed there, and eventually through the experience became friends.  As the term progressed, I changed, and after I came back from Christmas break I found I was missing the new church I had begun to fall in love with.  My friend loved it there, too, so we'd go back occasionally, but now that is the church I attend the majority of the time.  I still love the other church as well, and in many ways I feel torn in two, because both communities are made up of beautiful, Christian people, and they are such a joy to be around.  But there is something that has him unable to leave the one church, and myself, the other.  It's a little sad, because going to church without your "church buddy" is sad, I'll admit.  But the point here was that seeing the different ways people worship has broadened my understanding so greatly, and that is something I will continue to be grateful for daily.  The community at the more...contemporary church pushes my limits quite a bit (I'm quite the "awkward turtle" or social introvert), but I always end up gaining something and growing in some way - even if it takes me a while to realize it.  Maybe that's one of the reasons I'm finding it hard to leave now.  I have so many stories I could share with regards to this, but I'm sure you're tired of hearing about this at this point.
One thing I was introduced to this year was serving at a church where an inner city ministry holds a programme for the homeless.  It's been an incredible experience, and I tell anyone and everyone I can about it.  We get up before dawn and leave just before six to go serve breakfast to the homeless, and it is the best part of my week.  I'm the kind of person who hates waking up - no matter how long I'm sleeping, unless I'm waking up alarmless, on my own, good luck getting me out of bed.  Sometimes my alarm and I fight to the death, but in the end, it's so worth it.  If you ever have the opportunity to serve with a ministry like this, do it.  Don't let early hours stand in your way.  Even though I hate waking up, it really makes me appreciate mornings.  And others.
Others...that brings me to another point.  This may be a very small academic community, but there are so many different types of people here.  So many personalities, and opinions, and denominations, and learning opportunities.  There are so many beautiful individuals that I've gotten to meet, and I've been realizing at different points how they have touched me an affected my life this year.  I've gotten to experience so many different people, and have learned so much from them.

I could take forever, as I'm sure you can tell by now, but I do have to get back to the papers I have been procrastinating.  I just thought I'd share some reflecting I was doing after the my e-mail to my friend.
Sometimes when I'm struggling and missing the friends I made from my previous school - when we're so busy we don't have time to talk, when I have no idea what's going on with them, when I find out something extraneously - and when I just wish we could meet up in our busy lives for lunch, or a tea, or even just to study, I begin to wonder about the decisions I've made.  I know in my heart this was the best thing I could have done, but sometimes I still wonder.  But then, I have these moments when God makes so clear all of the blessings He's showered on me, and even though I feel so many different things - including strange and estranged - I feel this sense of peace.  This sense of...home, in a way.  It's a strange way to view home, but I think, nonetheless, it just might be.

So thankful!

I'm out, y'all; God Bless! <3