Week 3

This week was all about Repentance and Forgiveness.  To say the least it was intense.  On Friday which is application day for us we had the opportunity to get up and pray in front of the class for forgiveness of sins.  We also learned a lot about how we need to forgive those who have hurt us and make restitution those we have sin against.  It was def a day of tears but after it relief came.  It was only the first step though.  Now comes making our relationships right with both God and everyone around us, from the past and the present.

Although the time was tough it was also encouraging.  Seeing people from all over the world and from different cultures go up and hear their struggles, it bonded us.  We all had similar hurts, sin, forgiveness, and problems.  We all have a past and they usually aren’t our best moments.  Given none of us perfect and everyone struggles, but to hear it confirmed that we are all the same, and no one is better than the other.  And to be praying to the same God that would forgive us and bring peace to past hurts was encouraging.  At the end of it we walked out a little drained from laying our lives out there for each other and for God but it was also bonded us in a way that can never be replaced or taken away.

The week had some key moments of making want to break down and cry.  I had to write an email that was probably the hardest one I ever had to write, and the one I got in return was humbling but also very hard to read.  I learned a lot this week, both about myself, and how relationships work.  Although its been said a thousand times that forgiving isn’t forgetting this week made it clear that it’s not, and that it is a process that can take a very long time.

The week wasn’t a complete downer though.  It was uplifting to get these things off our backs, off my back.  And now we get to move on.  Yesterday was Saturday and I was able to talk with my best friend from back at home for a couple hours and it was great to see her.  There have been many moments that I wish she were here to hold my hand, or talk to, or share a funny moment with, but we are both doing what we need to do right now, so I understand that she’s not here.  It was good to see her though and talk about life.  I love having little communication with home, but I do love getting emails from people to hear what is going on.  It’s almost like I’m reading a book.  I’m not there to experience it, but knowing what happens gives me a taste of home.

We don’t have stars here from light pollution.  It’s not as bad as Vegas but it helps that the city can be bright and the weather feels like California.  I honestly have a hard time remembering where I am.  I feel as though I’m at home.  Not permanent home, at least not to my knowledge, but I don’t feel as though I’m an outsider.  That is until I try and figure out what a kilogram is and how fast the speed limit is and that dollars are coins here and the money is unrippable. 

All is good here.  My throat is sore today.  It feels like I have a post nasal drip, but there is nothing that is post about it.  Just a dripping nose that is running to the back of my throat.  Pray for that if you can.  And pray that the exchange rate doesn’t get any higher and that the American dollar gains strength so that I can pay off all my outreach fees.  I don’t know the exact cost of it yet, but if it is the full amount that I planned for I won’t have as much as I thought I did.  I will have enough just not as much as I thought.