VIRB

Whoever first said "time flies" knew what they were talking about. It seems that as I get older and more and more busy time seems to travel a lot faster than it did when I was younger and not so responsible. Academically, I was caught in the "Sophomore Slump" this year. I don't know what was wrong with me, but I didn't strive for A's, I just managed B's. I lacked motivation.

Spiritually, I grew a lot. I learned a lot more about myself and trusting God. In October I decided that I wanted to go on a Summer Mission trip through my University, but I knew my dad would not be so pleased with the idea. See my dad thinks more logically and well, I don't think I just do. I knew that God would provide and my heart was set. I just kept praying about it and eventually my dad came to his senses. (He was worried about $ + the chunk of my summer that I am supposed to spend working being used up.) But the Lord had His plan and purpose for me and I know that my work for Him will be rewarding and beneficial.

Sometimes it's funny how things pan out. God put Germany on my heart last summer before I even knew about the mission trip when I sat next to a German guy on a flight to Atlanta. I was traveling to New Orleans for a yearbook conference and he was going to visit his sister. This was my first time flying alone and I had brought a book and headphones and was prepared to keep myself entertained, but ended up talking to this guy the whole flight and then having lunch with him at the airport. Which if you haven't been to the airport in Atlanta - it's HUGE. He also helped me find my connecting flight. But while I was speaking to him I got to share a little about my beliefs and he told me all about Germany and how I should visit Munich. I never really thought about wanting to go there, but lo and behold, half a year later and the Lord shows me a mission trip to Germany. Really, it was such a "God thing." I wouldn't have picked Germany, it was chosen for me. I didn't even know where in Germany that we would be going to, but I now know that we are flying into Munich and staying is Southern Germany. I just think it's cool how it all worked out. I'm going on this mission trip in 3 days anyhow and I'm very excited/ a little nervous, but mostly excited.

At one of our missions meetings, Christian (our Student Missions director at PBA) spoke about evangelizing and why we're so afraid of it and how to go about it, but not with some list of steps and whatnot. I think I'm scared because I don't want to misrepresent Christ. I don't want someone's only image of Christ to be of my flawed self. Another reason I'm scared is because I'm not good at debating and I don't want to have to defend Christianity. I mean, I would, but I'm not well-versed and I'm not perfect. But even though these things frighten me doesn't mean I should share my faith-the single most important part of my life-with others. All of my friends know that I'm a Christian, and I think that it shows by my actions and by speech. I talk about church and missions and praying for them and I'm loving, but I don't think I've gotten on a deep enough level with some of my non-Christian friends that I should.

Evangelizing just has a yucky reputation of people who use Hell as a way of trying scare people to Christ. Not the smartest technique...you'd think they'd have learned by now. :/ I think "evangelizing" should equal "loving." Loving everyone, no matter who they are. If you want to change someone's heart I think you have to be there for them, treat them the way Jesus would, and pray for them always. There's no way you can ever know someone's heart or change it, but you can always pray for God to change it and even if they don't ever accept His love while you know them, you never know what their future holds. You could be that person that changed the mind of someone's negative veiws about "Christianity." Honestly, shine your light and don't hold anything back because that's what Jesus would have you do.

My next two days are going to be spent unpacking the kajillion things that I brought home and repacking for Germany. I'm also going to see Spiderman 3 on Saturday night. I hope this post was not too boring, I don't think I had a theme to it, I just felt like writing.

Thanks for reading :)