"April showers, usher in this spring. Will you come, with your gentle mists and torrent downpours? Will you come, oh winds of spring, blowing in breeze, afresh, alive, anew? Dear sunshine, will you peek out from the winter's clouds, and bring forth your light? I welcome you, sweet season. Fall down from heaven, raindrops of mercy, of grace. Heal this land."
Experiencing my second round of a spring season in Salt Lake City has been an amazing opportunity. It is this time of year that the snow is melting off the mountains, the city air is crispier and cleaner, green bulbs are forming on backyard branches, pinks and whites are starting to line downtown streets, and falling asleep to an open window of gentle rainfall is cherished. I’m finding freedom in spring’s symbolism.
There is a song that I have recently been replaying over and over, which has set the tone for this particular season; it holds a personal, favorite lyric that says “from the broken earth, flowers come up, pushing through the dirt.” Appropriate? Definitely. The season is also a personal reflection of the physical, emotional, and spiritual healing that Jesus has brought me through, over the years and now recent times. Being “wholly his,” allows him to make beautiful the heart, watering the seeds within to “push through the dirt.” Theretofore, I love spring, in all that it is entailing!This April marks one year and eight months of residency in Utah. I would like to share a very current epiphany that took place, as I was in conversation with my roommate just earlier this evening, about the adventures thus far in this Utah expedition. I’ve drawn a conclusion that I have gotten to know Salt Lake City pretty well at this point. The whole first year that I lived here my goal was to stay in the background and get to know the culture best I could. The first year included various jobs such as the Wellness Center, Spoon Me, Whole Foods, Lenitech Snow and Skate, Nannying Bellah and Kalen, and Bryant Intermediate. The Lord moved me in and through each of those jobs all in his timing, with the beginnings and endings of each. As I reflect on the ins and outs of the relationships with the co-workers of each job, I can now see how the Lord was getting me very well-acquainted with almost each “type” of person or “group” in Salt Lake City…there are only a few categories! I praise Him for his wisdom, and giving me what I needed here to bring a deeper social understanding of Utah. Little did I know what His plan was.
Moving on to further updates, it is
overwhelming to actually say that I am a student again. As I am concluding my second semester at the University of Utah, it is safe to say that the past year of school has been amazing to be a part of. Through being a student at the “U,” it has opened doors to attend classes at the LDS Institute of Religion, which is right on campus. The first semester I took a class on the Old Testament with my friend Hilary, who is also a believer. Her and I were a little team by the Spirit in there. It was through my experience at Institute that I experienced my first “real” spiritual adversity. I’m so thankful for the protection I have in Jesus’ name. As I am a student, words cannot express the joy that fills my heart as I walk around on campus with able knees, a sound mind, and body that is mostly pain-free. Praise God. There are no words. First semester I enrolled in classes towards Journalism. As I went through all the mass media courses, I realized, that as I do love to write, and as a career of a journalist is exciting indeed, it did not seem to be the perfect fit for me. With all that would be required of a true, sold-out journalist, I could not see a “set” position like such in my future. I still have some doubts about leaving that dream, but have chosen instead to set my sights on a bachelor of arts in speech communication. I’ve really enjoyed this semester’s courses, and believe that this major will leave a broader door of opportunity for career. It also fits better with the true dream that I hold, or that the Lord gave me, which is being able to advocate for the treatment which has healed my body from Lyme Disease (the treatment has not been passed by the FDA for the past 70 years). Significant and exciting developments and resources for this dream to take place have been nothing short of direct answer to prayer. So you could say that the groundwork has already begun with that project. More on that, later!
I have about three weeks of semester left, and am enrolled for a crunched summer session lasting from May until the end of June. The month of July will be dedicated to the Bay Area, which I am highly anticipating. There is so much that I am looking forward to, such as holding my baby niece Tessa Grace, spending time with precious Audrey and lovable Eli, as well as my family and relatives. It will be a month of “root” relationships. I will be staying with my cousin Kate and her husband Cory, in their extra room. It will be so refreshing to visit Hope Center and re-connect with the body there. And lastly, both of my best friends (Emily and Katie, roommates from APU) are getting married in the Bay Area! I am in both of the weddings and am already busy planning parties for them (their weddings are 12 days apart). Yahoo, cannot wait! The month will conclude with Mom’s birthday, and a close, dear friend from Utah, Nicole coming to visit northern California for the first time. She is planning to drive back with me. This is the tentative plan. I will have time to breathe, Lord-willing.
As far as relationships and connections here in Salt Lake, it is as though they are taking off and I cannot keep up. The past two months have been incredible to witness the work of the Spirit in specific relationships, such as my LDS friend Julianne. I will dedicate a whole blog to what has transpired with her. This relationship has ministered to me by experiencing the enduring, never-ending, and pursuing love of Jesus. He does not give up on us, and it has been overwhelming to witness. And his timing is perfect, because I think the lessons that I am learning are just what I have been needing for my own personal healing. What a dynamic God that I serve. There is another relationship at work that I’ve cherished since last semester: Natalie! The common ground with her began when we decided to be “study buddies.” While she was giving me her phone number I recognized the area code from the Bay. As we got to know one another, it turns out that she grew up LDS, and her dad was even a bishop. I was intrigued, as in the first conversation she just blurted out that she was at a place in life where she said she was open to learning other religions, as she knew Mormonism was whack. Um, green light Jesus? I think so. She ended up coming to church with me one Sunday and as she perused the bulletin she leaned over and asked, “Have you read through the whole Bible? I was wondering if we could read through it, get together once a week, and discuss it?” In my head I’m thinking, “Aren’t I supposed to be asking you this?” Oh the work of Jesus truly ministers to me! Her and I have gotten together but have yet to read through the Scriptures. Again, a story for another entry!
Other relationships have included Laura and Bethany, my two roommates. Again, God has totally and completely provided not only roommates, but women my age who love Jesus and have a deep relationship with Him. How encouraging to live in this house. We call our house, “The House of Refuge,” our place to come before the Lord together as sisters with one another, and daughters of the King that we serve. It is in this house that we can spiritually, emotionally, and physically rest from the invisible wars that are so active here in Utah. We really do trust that our house is a place of refuge and safety, and that angels guard over our home as “part” of our team. We get to openly pray together in our house, for our lives and for God’s spirit to break through and spread in this land of darkness, depression, and despair. Several groups of sister missionaries have come through and visited, and Monday nights at "The Refuge" have become an “organic” gathering of young Christian women to fellowship. I love witnessing how the Spirit moves.Today's blog will conclude with a quote that has left me challenged, inspired, and convicted. I hope it does that same thing for you: “You can get into heaven my friend, without a lot of prayer. You can have a one-minute quiet time every day, and God will still love you, but you won’t hear a “Well done, good and faithful servant” on one-minute conversations with God. And you certainly can’t make it on that kind of prayer life in the hard places where Jesus is not known or worshipped.” – Floyd McClung
This has been my verse for the week. May it encourage you as well: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” – Paul (letter to Ephesians)
And lastly, if you want to check out the lyrics of the song that I was referring to above, go for it! Here is the link. Mind you, the video is not the highest quality, but it serves the purpose. Enjoy! (copy and paste the link below).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLxC_tYhFxs
Featured and recommended reading of the month: Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard
