Sunrises and Lightning...Blessings and Difficulties

One of my goals this summer was to wake up early and watch the sunrise. Several of you may know how much I love my sleep and therefore never quite had enough motivation to wake up so early. But God knows exactly what we need and when we need it. I got to watch the sunrise the past two mornings. Both were amazingly beautiful and incredibly different from each other. The first one I was able to enjoy with Jalina on the way to the train station in Virginia. Before we could even see the sun, I noticed the gentle pink lining on the small clouds on the horizon. The sun was bright red when it came up and cast gorgeous soft colors of pink, blue and purple across the sky. Jalina and I ooed and awed at it all the way to the train station. The second sunrise I had the privilege of watching was when our plane was just about to approach Iceland. Very much unlike the first one, this one was a ribbon of very vivid colors that were so distinct that it reminded me of something a child might draw with crayons. The colors faded from red to pink to orange to yellow to green to light blue to purple and right into the dark night sky with the stars still shining brightly. 

Even in the middle of the stress and loneliness of traveling on my own, those sunrises and even the purple lightning that flashed brilliantly through the sky) which was the cause of our plane’s delay out of Washington D.C.), always cause me to stop and remember how mighty, powerful and beautiful God is…and how much He loves me. 

There were a few bumps in the road such as my zipper breaking on one of my bags as I was boarding my first train, almost making my taxi driver get a ticket because it took longer than I anticipated to navigate the (huge) Washington D.C. train station, having to check my carry-on because it was too big, the delayed flight, and only a couple hours of sleep between the night before and the pathetic attempt of plane sleep. But there were little blessings that perked me up a bit too. The gentleman who helped me on and off the train with my heavy bags. The taxi driver from Afghanistan, who despite the fact I almost caused him to get a ticket, was very friendly and chatted with me all the way to the airport. The Icelandic Air employee who gave me a huge break in cost when I was told I would have to check my carry-on bag. The man I sat next to on one of the flights who wanted to talk to me every moment I was awake and then held up the line for me so I could get to my connecting flight on time. The man who helped me get my luggage to a table after I bought coffee and realized I had no free hands to carry it anywhere.  

So I have made it safely to Capernwray House and will arrive at the school tomorrow. I am spending time with several of my new friends in the lounge at the Bed and Breakfast, students who are also going to Capernwray. We have spent the better part of the afternoon and evening with each other talking, eating and watching British TV.

My last days in Virginia...

Two days until I leave Virginia Beach and begin my journey into the UK. I confess that I am quite anxious about it all. People tell me often that they are praying for me and will continue to do so. I am so grateful for those prayers and despite my confession of anxiety, have felt a certain sense of encouragement and comfort through that. So to all of you who have committed to praying for me during my travels and my time of Bible studying at Capernwray, thank you.  I have discovered that a good way of coping with missing people back home is to pray for them often so if you have any prayer requests, please feel free to let me know so I can be praying for you.

I have been securing some last minute details like preparing a box of things to send ahead of me because I need to make space and weight in my bags due to a mistake I made when leaving Portland. Who knew that mailing a box to England would cost so much? Speaking of leaving Portland, that was quite the adventure. There were several wonderful and dear friends who woke up early to see me off, even though I never announced when I was leaving because it was so early that I didn't expect anyone to show up. Even though I was fairly preoccupied with getting ready to catch a plane, I am so grateful that they were there to see me off. We had already gotten a later start than planned, and on top of that, the line to go through security was so much longer than we expected it to be. Right before I was ready to go through, I discovered that the lady at the Southwest Airlines counter had not given me my boarding pass even though I requested one. Although, I also didn't check the folder she gave me with my bag claim tickets like I should have. One of the security guys directing people in line let me out and I bolted (past my friends who were still there...wondering what I was doing) to the station where I printed the boarding pass myself. The guy let me back in the line and I ended up going through at the same time as Jalina. But, due to the fact that my bags were too heavy the night before and I had to put some things into my carry-on, I was pulled aside at security and told I needed to get rid of some of my liquids. Silly me...I should've thought that through better! So I passed them off to my parents and they later mailed them to me. We rushed to our gate and made it in time. But, that being said, I need to send some things ahead of me to England to compensate for the extra weight. I am glad that those glitches in traveling happened while in Portland at an airport that I am comfortable in. Now I will be more aware of those details when I am traveling by myself and in unfamiliar places.

Jalina and the boys and I are going to work in some last minute visits to historical sites, a park (called Mt. Trashmore which was built on an old landfill sight) and the beach. Jalina and I also have some things we wanted to do together tonight after the boys go to bed. It will be a good last couple of days in Virginia Beach with them and I do hope we have time to do everything we have planned.

I leave early Thursday morning. My trip from when I catch the train in Virginia to when my train arrives in Carnforth is a total of 26 hours. Here are a few things that you can be praying for:

•  We need to leave early Thursday morning to get to the train station (about 45 minutes from Jalina's house) and we are hoping to avoid traffic. But this means getting the boys out of bed early, too.
• I discovered that my train to Washington, DC does not have a luggage car so I will have to bring all my bags with me where I am sitting (my travel agent confirmed that they allow that). But I am still a little bit nervous about that part.
• It is my first time riding a train and a taxi so not really knowing what it is like to ride either adds to my nervousness a little.
• Also, please pray that I would get a chance to SLEEP in that 26 hour time period. I want to be awake and alert when I arrive in Manchester, not only to look out for my own safety, but also to enjoy my new surroundings for the first time. 

I know that God is in control and I do think that my travels are planned out well step by step from here to there, but just because I trust Him and know that He loves and cares for me doesn't necessarily mean that everything will go just as I expect it to. Only God knows how He plans on challenging me in that 26 hour time period. And I know that He is always with me.


Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.”

So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?”

Hebrews 13:5-6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  
Philippians 4:6-7

Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts. 
 See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24

Rejoice.

Last night I lay in bed trying to fall asleep, but failing to do so due to the thoughts of my travels in the coming week and heavy prayers for friends and family at home. As a mixture of feelings and a list of things that need to get done consumed me, I became more frustrated that I couldn't just fall asleep.

As it often does, a single verse came to mind: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"

Not a huge lesson learned, just a gentle reminder that reminded me of two things:
1) Who I am speaking to when I pray and express my frustrations, and
2) to ALWAYS rejoice in Him, no matter what.

 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7

A Lesson in the Night

At my sister's house, my nephew's room doubles as the guest room when there is company over. Since I have been staying with her, I have been sleeping in Ryley's bed while he sleeps on the floor in a sleeping bag. Last night I went to bed about three hours later than Ryley and as I was going in to go to bed, I noticed that Ryley was having trouble sleeping soundly. He was still half asleep, but he was letting out sobbing sounds and it seemed as if his whole body was writhing in pain. My assumption was that he was having a bad dream. It pained me to see him bothered by something so strongly that it overtook his whole body and kept him from sleeping. I knelt by his side and tried to gently coax him out of it. His response was so distorted that it was unintelligible. I gently said his name and wanted so badly to just be able to pick him up and hold him in my arms to comfort him, but he wasn't responding to me. He just continued, half asleep and in pain, denying my help or not even fully recognizing that I was there. All I wanted was to do everything and anything I could to help him.

It made me wonder if that is how God often feels with His children. When we are distraught and trying so desperately to endure a time of pain and suffering, we sometimes try to endure it on our own or don't trust God completely with what we are suffering through. Somehow we don't recognize the voice of God gently reminding us of His presence and His arms longing to hold us in a comforting embrace. But we fail to cry out and invite Him to do so.

As it turned out, Ryley was having bad dreams and his tummy hurt, for which the instant cure was crawling in bed with his mommy. He is just fine today. While I did not enjoy those moments of watching him suffer as I sat helpless at his side, I am grateful for them. It shed a new light for me on how God must feel at times when I am trying to struggle through something on my own and am unwilling to give it up and trust Him completely and rest in His peace and comfort. It doesn't mean that He will make it all go away, but learning to trust Him and persevere by His strength will in the end draw me so much closer to His heart which is so much more valuable and glorifying to Him than having endured something on my own.

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:5 

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
John 15:9-11

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Ephesians 6:10  

You are my hiding place;
    you will protect me from trouble
    and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Psalm 32:7