Home away from HOME
It’s been a full and challenging time leaving again but now I’m here and well on my way in leading. I’ve spent the past week trying to get my head around all that I need to get done for the ever approaching school. It’s quite easy for me to look at all that needs to be done and feel overwhelmed, but I’ve found my strength in the knowledge that God has appointed me for this and has given me all that I need to succeed. With every day I have to look at the tasks I can get done only for that day and expect nothing more.
My girlfriend gave me a journal before I left and in it was this verse:
James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it’s work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
And though I do not face trials and tribulations that scorn the flesh nor burden the body, I carry with me the cross that I will bare for these 7 months. I am happy to be here accomplishing the Lords work, but with each day I wake to a task beyond myself and must persever that God may be glorified.
I feel more at home here with each and every day and am becoming more and more excited about my school. At the moment I have 3 female staff, 2 male staff and 17 students but we are expecting somwhere between 20 to 25 students. I have a board where I place they’re pictures along with their names and where they’re from. As that board begins to take shape, with more and more pictures my excitement builds. I’ve never been too good at loving strangers as Christ would have but these students are already feeling like family, even though all I’ve done is read they’re applications and seen their faces.
Beyond that I’m really excited to be blessed with the staff I have! MAN, God is GOOD!!! I have one returning staff girl who’s stinkin funny and real good at getting people motivated. I have two staff girls that were on last years school and I KNOW they’re going to be great leaders. There’s one staff guy who was on last year that I approached on grad week to ask him to come back and he is. The other staff guy I’ve never met but have enjoyed talking with via e-mail and sounds like an incredible man after God’s heart.
Those who are praying for me. Thank you and keep it up… I am deeply greatful. God has kept me safe and without want this entire trip. Continue to pray that God would bring staff in, it’s not TOO late. As well, continue to pray that my focus would remain set on what needs to be getting done. My memory isn’t the greatest so I work well from to do lists, however I want to make sure I’m not missing things.
Thank you and God Bless,
Your brother in Christ,
-Matt Short
