"And I have someone waiting too..."

So, this weekend has been crazy-blessed in so many ways...


We've been decorating for Christmas all week, it seems, in our classes. Cindy's been making her students grab an ornament and hang it on our small tree in the prayer room, and then we've also been getting pictures of our classes and the tree...the festiveness of the season just brings more energy and life, I think. :) It's been interesting to watch our students too; some of them really dislike this season, and others enjoy Christmas simply because of the lights and everything, but few people get the whole "unto us a Child is born" type of joy... One lady last night asked, "Is it ok to smile at church during Christmas? Isn't it a serious time of year?" We all assured her that she could smile as much as she wanted... :)


Coffee House was yesterday, and we decided to do a pie contest in honor of Thanksgiving, and then decorate for Christmas afterwards! To our surprise and delight, and to the utter chaos of the evening, we had about 30 people come...kids, adults...even my older retired student who was the most lovely adopted grandfather I've ever seen for the kids... Then after Coffee House, a couple of the young adults just hung out singing songs, watching worship dramas, etc. :) It truly felt like Thanksgiving, down to the very end, where five of us were eating the remainders out of the pie plates with only our forks or spoons... :) Even though the event was supposed to end at 6pm, we were there until after 9pm singing, talking, and goofing around that included such things as Cindy demonstrating ballroom dance, me demonstrating rap, and a random group rendition of "Stand By Me."

Then today was an organ concert...SOO many people crammed into our little church! It's really so cool to see the church members reaching out to their community and welcoming people into the church...we had young kids glued to that organ, and students and neighborhood people coming in...

After the organ concert, I went out for a quick run before meeting Lindsey and Cindy to discuss our "after Christmas" goals and plans for the transitions coming up... Sometimes it's so weird here to look around at the ministry that is going on, and see all of these people that I've gotten to know and love...struggle through things with...email at all hours of the day or night :)...celebrate Christmases and Thanksgivings, etc...and realize that these aren't my people to keep. The next stage in my life will be starting sooner than I think, and it feels like mentally and emotionally, the switches will soon have to be starting...I need to pass on these people that I love to others, and even though I see how plentifully "the harvest" is here on so many levels, it maybe is not going to be my harvest to work...heh, is any of this making sense? I summed up how I was feeling today with one word: jealous. All of these people--why do I have to give them up? When I went running today, I was listening to a song that actually talks about a girl and guy having an affair...the title above is a line that really stuck out to me; "And I have someone waiting too..." I do have someone waiting--a whole other country, actually, and other opportunities and plans that God has in store...

"Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise..." These people, and everything that has happened here up to now, is God's...His work, His people, His timing...and indeed, there are so many blessings!