Hello, friends and family!
I haven't gotten around to posting about my third week until now because so much happened last week that it was almost overwhelming- overwhelming in the best way possible, though. As I have thought about what to include and what not to include I have decided that I will spare y'all most of the details and keep to the larger points. The highlight of week three, by far, was that we were given our outreach options. We students had been quite impatiently waiting for that day since before we even got to YWAM. I found out by accident earlier in the day that after lunch we would find out. I was trying so hard to keep calm and to not over think it. When they sat us down, I could barely contain myself. Our school leader, Kim Kaufmann, told us that we had two options. One group would be going to Ecuador, and the other would be going to a few countries in Asia. Then, they handed us all a yellow post-it note, told us to pray for God to lead us and instructed us to write that answer down on the paper. I was so torn. Truly, neither one of them sounded better than the other. Both were such amazing prospects in my mind. I told God, "Lord, I have no idea where you want me to go! Please, lead me to the right one!" Then, as I looked up at the board, Asia almost seemed to fade away, and all of my attention was on Ecuador. Every piece of me felt that it was right, and I knew God was leading me to write it down. I wanted to shout out with joy! Once the results were in, I found out that all three of my roommates had also chosen Ecuador, which was crazy because only seven of us had chosen Ecuador (some arranging with the Asia group had to be done, later)! I was so excited! We will continue our adventures together on outreach, and I am so thankful! So much more happened last week, but to keep this post from being pages and pages long I will just tell y'all that God has been speaking to me so faithfully. On multiple occasions, people (including a stranger in Walmart) have come up to me and told me that God told them to speak to me about very specific situations in my life where I have struggled or things that I have been worrying about. It's truly jaw-droppingly amazing how He has been interacting with me, even in simple ways of encouragement. One day, for example, I had been crying and felt very discouraged. I felt this nudge inside of me to go on a walk, and when I was out in the middle of a field I looked up and saw a random rainbow off in the distance. I felt God whisper, "I promise it will get better." Being here is showing me the true nature and character of God. I'm learning that He is such an intimate God. The more we pour into Him, the more He pours into us. During our times of discouragement and heartache, He is waiting for us to turn around and run to His arms. All He wants is for us to invest in Him, and He will invest in us. It's such an amazing thing. I truly have never felt as much joy and peace in my life as I do right now, and I know it is because I am yielding more and more of myself to God. Thank y'all so much for taking the time to read this! My prayer for y'all is that y'all would spend time with God daily. He has proven how much He wants a relationship with us- He DIED for us so that we could eternally be with Him, growing closer and closer to Him. Until next time, Olivia
1 Comment
Laraine
7/19/2016 05:25:50 pm
Love your stories. God truly is amazing and am glad you are so "tuned in" and listening. Keep your head up. God is with you through the hard times and the great times as you are learning. You are starting an amazing adventure that I look forward to following. Praying for you sweet friend and woman of God!
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorOlivia DeLaney is a recent college graduate that blogs about her transition into adulthood and the adventures along the way. Archives
January 2017
Categories |