A new year in the making

03.01.07

This past year has been quite unique in all that has happened. I feel extremely blessed to have had the opportunity to attend school for the summer, and to volunteer for Wycliffe for a few months, especially to remain free of financial debt through it all.

Besides learning plenty lots, I’ve also met many new people and walked in relationships that have been both stretching and very encouraging. Along the way, God has been trying to teach me to rely fully on Him, not looking to stuff or even people for my sufficiency. It’s a hard lesson to learn, but a worthwhile one. When I read The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing, I realized this lesson’s echo in my own life, and again a month or so later.

Putting up my tent

Ever since I left for Bible school in September of 2005, I’ve felt a little like a vagabond. I have always had shelter, food, and clothing… but I haven’t had a place to call my own. Lately I’ve been hoping to get settled, with a “normal” job and an apartment, with the intention of buying a house this year. But I’m not certain if that’s what God has for me…

Following the tradition of the Moravian church, I was given a scripture verse for this new year:

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.¹

And so I have been challenged, to set my sights not on the future of this life, but on the next. God can take care of such things as shelter, in whichever way He determines.

The work of my hands

Presently, I find myself doing a freelance project for Royer Homes, as well as studying towards my Zend PHP 5 certification exam.

I am also excited about a side project I began designing nearly two years ago, which I will not say much about, other than there are some people and organizations that would be interested. It’s not the sort of thing that will make me a lot of money (if any), but something I could do on the side.

The treasure that is family

This Christmas I spent mostly with my Dad and my younger brother. My brother was and is teaching English in South Korea, but he was here for 3 weeks. He originally left for Korea after I left for Europe in 2005, so it had been about 16 months since I last saw him.

We mostly played board games, like Axis & Allies, and Settlers of Catan… but I also got to see some of Terry’s videos from Korea, and enjoy some positively non-Korean food with him (like tacos!).

Us guys, along with my two younger sisters, also went for a photo shoot one night, followed by early-bird turkey dinner. Fun times.

Well, until next time…