Ok so I might be a few days behind on my blog but it will all be caught up by tonight (Belfast time). This post was from the last day of orientation before we left. The picture above is the entire YAV group who are going all over the world.
Orientation was one of the best learning experiences ever. We got different sessions on cultural competency, culture shock, globalization, self-care, community and living in community, gender and identity issues and safety. These sessions have all got me to think about the ways in which I process and have brought to the table the need to think about my fears, worries, joys, hopes, and the expectations and how I see this year turning out. I have also met some amazing people and have got to share in Fellowship, Worship, and Bible Study with them as a community.
The Orientation at Stony Point made me come to terms with the fact that I had not started to process or think about the emotions that go along with this year over seas. The sessions made me realize that I do have fears and that I was scared to leave. I was nervous about my self and my health, my relationships with family and friends and leaving them behind, whether I was gonna have worth in Belfast and how I would be perceived. These are all fears that will be brought with me to N. Ireland and will also be with me for the rest of my life. All I can do is put my trust in the Lord to and have faith that the Lord will help me through. This means that he will give me others to help me with my struggles and to make sure I know that he is always there for me and will be my strength.
It was difficult to say goodbye to the people that I have became close with but made me realize I will be able to spend an amazing year with 7 others and that all of us will be serving the Lord in mission around the globe.
So I leave you now with a verse that has inspired me and so far have helped me through :
Matthew 6: 25-34
25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifeb?
28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
