It looks like I may end up writing less this month than last month; I wasn't sure if that was possible! Life in Oxford is busy, per usual. It is hard to update on here as much as I'd like. Each week is full of new information, lessons and trials and usually as soon as you finally start grappling with things, it's another week and it's time to switch gears. I don't feel like I have a lot of time to really reflect on life in Oxford, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, just sometimes exhausting.So, with that said, here's a snapshot into my life:
Bible College: is going well. Third Term has started well, learning lots of good things as a community. Figuring out how to work together and love one another in spite of differences. We've studied the life and person of Paul, Ephesians, Romans and the idea of loving our neighbors. Each week has brought on new things to think about as a community and as individuals. I've loved each week for different reasons. I especially loved the week we studied Ephesians, because I know the lecturers quite well since they're from Indiana. Learning more about loving people/neighbors/enemies was also a highlight. What a challenge Jesus gave us! It's been especially important in our community, since we are so intertwined into each other's lives and spend so much time together.
Nafrica: is the word we've created instead of saying, 'North Africa', which we leave for at 6 a.m. Wednesday morning. I am more than excited about it! We have been put into smaller teams that are lead by other students, and I love my teammates. We have been given virtually no information about what we'll actually be doing while we're there, but we're prepared to hike, sleep outside and do kid's work! It's amazing the faith and excitement I have for this trip. I think a lot of it has to do with past experiences and knowing that God will protect and provide, but I also think I'm excited, because this is going to be a reshaping time as a community. It's going to be hard and challenging, but we're going to come back with more faith and love for God and for each other. At least this is my hope!
The future: is looking bright. Pretty much since the start of Term 2, I've known that God has been leading me to spend this next season of my life at home, in Indiana. I am still working out exactly what that looks like and for how long, but I am excited to go home for a longer period of time. I haven't spent more than 8 weeks at home in almost 5 years! It is going to be a huge transition for myself, but even for my family and friends. I think as much as people have missed me, they've gotten used to me being out of the country- so it will be a transition for many people! I don't have more details than that, really. I do have a plane ticket home for July. Going home is going to be bittersweet, that's for sure, but I have faith that God will take care of things.I am: feeling a range of emotions. I don't like how quickly time is passing. I am finally feeling more settled here, although with that said, I do still struggle with being here. I'm really working on not regretting how I spend these last two months. God has me here for a reason. I'm with this community of people for a purpose. I don't want to ignore that; however, that's usually easier said than done. I was really challenged last week about letting go of past things, even though they may be good, but to allow God to put something better in my life. That equated friendships/relationships to me. I've been quite bitter about having to leave good friends behind. It's something I've struggled with for years. God has always blessed me by putting amazing people in my life. He's done that from the beginning of my life- there are so many people I love and cherish and it seems no matter where I go next, I always meet someone that I feel like I can't live without. So it's hard to leave when that season is over, especially if friendships are ones that outlive that season. But I'm starting to realise a couple things, 1) Surrendering those relationships to God is the only way to keep them. He's the one in control. He's got the power to keep the relationship together. And he's got the power to take the relationship apart. It's up to him and his will, and sometimes people are only in your life for a season, and that's OK. It's just my own selfishness and stubbornness that gets in the way. And 2) If I don't allow God to have control of relationships that I have, I can't make new ones. I can't focus on the people that I'm presently with. If I'm constantly trying to keep in touch with everyone that I love, who live all over the world, I won't make time for the people that I'm with now, and I may miss out on a relationship that God wanted me to have.
So, I'm trying to keep that all in mind these last two months of college. God worked a miracle to get me here. Literally. He wanted me here. He really wanted me here. So keeping in touch with people is fine, but I need to be prayerful about who I'm spending my time with here and not allow these past relationships to get in the way of future ones. I'm learning how to trust God with these relationships, as well as, lots of other things... but that's the jest of what's going on in my head right now.Books I'm currently reading: "Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God"... "Notes from a Small Island"... "ReJesus"...
I'm loving Spotify. Not sure if it's just a UK thing or not, but it's an online music player, you can listen to virtually any album for free... only a couple ads every once in awhile. Currently I'm listening to Tim Hughes.
The above photos are from a trip I took to Ireland in April.
Think that's all I've got. Will finish this off with a verse that I'm loving:
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice- the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
--Romans 12.1-2 NLT
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ruthie