Forever Student

I'm never going to graduate.

I'm not in denial. The grief and feeling of loss that comes with graduation from TU has not yet hit. The fact is, I am constantly learning and, I believe, even in heaven I will eternally be learning more about God. We will have work to do. Since we will no longer see life dimly through a dark glass (1 Cor. 13:12), all of our work will be immediately good, fulfilling and rewarding. Our capacity and ability to learn will be renewed to its fullest potential. How exciting!

My student status here in Mexico is being stretched. I'm learning in new ways and experiences. Here at the group house, I am the oldest intern, the only college graduate. The others are 17, 18, 19, and 20 (crazy, right?) Right now, we are with a high school church group who has come to Cancún for the week to help with construction projects, build relationships with kids, and generally further Back2Back's mission of "care for today, hope for tomorrow" to everyone we serve.

Left to Right: Maddie, Alexis, Gio, Annie, Me

I'm finding there's a certain heightened level of responsibility I feel as the oldest in my peer group. There's also an unfortunate sense of spiritual superiority. Where the heck did that come from??? Is it because I went to the number one Midwest University according to U.S. News & World Report? Is it because of my tendency to subconsciously judge shallow, deconstructive words and actions? Is it because I feel like my life experiences have somehow surpassed theirs and that I have learned so much more? Is it because I have consistently desired to seek God in my darkest moments?

Whatever it is, my reasons are void of any reason.


Today I am thankful that God is humbling me in the areas where I tend to be prideful and restoring me in those places of continual self-condemnation. 

My younger peers have been teaching me a lot lately. I hope I have been teaching them as well. Co-dependence, co-discipleship . . . this is what community is all about! I am constantly surprised by sudden depths of insight or corrections in my way of thinking. And I can see glimpses of child-like faith stirring in their hearts. Not childish faith, but a faith that inspires me to trust in a Father immediately concerned with all of our needs.

By no means have I solved all the mysteries of life either here in Mexico or back in the states. I'm a forever student of God's grace and love.

And I like it that way.

Praises:

• Alexis's (one of the interns) friend who was in a major accident is now out of the hospital! Hurray!!!!
• Constant opportunities to learn and grow
• An unexpectedly quick recovery after feeling sick one evening
• Getting to connect with/love a girl at the government shelter for juvenile delinquents and abused kids (more about this later)
• An unexpected HUGE monetary donation to the Tres Reyes Community Center Back2Back is building (more on this later as well)

Prayer Requests: 

• The ability to process and put into action what I am learning
• Supernatural perseverance to continue trying to communicate in Spanish and to build relationships here, keeping in mind Christ's abounding love available to me at all times