Introducing...Aldi

Introducing…Aldi.
This weekend, my friends took me to Aldi. For those of you who don’t know what it is, it is a German grocery store…with most everything off-brand. So, it’s already cheap because it’s off-brand. But then, the store doesn’t give you bags. So, they aren’t having to buy bags in bulk, which means that they can charge you less. Also, all carts are looped together by a fancy chain-like lock that only opens when you deposit a quarter (basically a deposit-don’t worry, you get it back!).
I knew none of this when I first visited Aldi. My friends took me. As we turned into the parking lot, Tabitha goes, “Oh no! I forgot bags.” And this led to the first confusion….why in the world would we need bags??? Because they don’t give them to you. You can buy them for real cheap…something like 6 or 9 cents…but that can also add up fast.
We decided to rent a cart and just share it. So, we put in our quarter deposit, took our cart, and bravely stepped into the store. And there was bargain shoppers paradise. Coffee bags for $3. Spagetti in bulk for $2. A bag of apples for $2. Olive oil for $2. And much, much more. Beans, whipped cream, meat, chocolate, etc. And all for much much cheaper. I spent $30. I probably would have spent something like $60 or $70 anywhere else.
But then came the problem…we had four girls sharing a cart and no bags. We split up. Those of us who could went to another line. The man behind the counter I was at watched us and proclaimed, “Car-pooling on the quarter, huh?” So here’s what happened. The man checked us out and instead of bagging up our food, simply put the food back into the cart after he scanned it. So, we walked out of the store with a cartful of unbagged, free food. And then we deposited the unbagged, free food into the car trunk. And there it sat in the trunk-unbagged and free.
And then we went to walmart. When we got out, my friend Hilary got of the car and ----ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh-found not one, but two paper bags which could hold our priceless treasures from Aldi. And she said, “The Lord hath provided.”
The end.

school...week 2

So I don't have internet at home and I have to rely on internet here at school...so blog entries will be few and far between. I've decided I'm going to shoot for every Friday...we'll see how it goes.
This week was a great beginning. I've kind of found myself frustrated because I'm not working so I feel very, overly free...but I think it's been good. I've been digesting my time overseas...trying to figure out what has changed, what hasn't changed and what's next for me. I'm working through what He taught me overseas and now I'm trying to figure out what He is trying to teach me next.
And I'm not going to lie...I think that He purposefully gave me a season with no job and a slightly light load so that I can concentrate on Him. Because truth is, that's why we are here. I feel Him drawing me to him...through a FANTASTIC roommate who challenges me beyond belief, through relationship from people overseas and getting to "see" what's going on, but not really see it, through meeting crazy people who have done crazy things for Him. 1 week here and I already feel like the scumb of the universe who is surrounded by giants of the faith. And I think that is good. I'm coming to grips with my sinfullness and feeding off the crazy faith of those around me. It's been awesome. When I was overseas, I was challenged. And I returned home only to be challenged again.
Last night we had a dinner of world-wide proportions...ok, maybe just worldwide cuisine. We ate food from Germany, Central Asia, Romania, Korea, India, and even a little from America. And we fellowshiped. We talked about the various countries and told stories about cultural differences. And it was great. Really great. Just a time of fellowship and friendship and great food.
This morning, my heart was again pulled eastward, though, as I had a fantastic discussion with one of my best friends over there. And I had to once again thank the Lord for technology that allows me to remain connected to people who are so far away.
And today, only moments ago, I met someone from the country I was just in! And it made me so, so, so excited to get to talk to him about my country and hopefully we will get to meet again sometime soon.
So, yes, it was a good first week...now I only have to decide how I am going to get all my reading assignments done...hahah.

Today, my best friend got sent out. And I am so proud of her. I am proud of a woman after the Father's heart who answered His call and is leaving everything for one year....including a finacee. It's going to be a hard road for her. But the Father is good and He has a great plan for the next year.
What surprised me was how much I struggled with the service. The whole time, I was holding back tears...because I was saying goodbye to my best friend and because I wasn't getting on that plane myself. I find my current path just as hard. I would jump on a plane and go to another country....that seems like the easier path to me. Instead, I know that Father has called me here right now...and so I have to find contentment and purpose in a fantastic, but fantastically hard area...my home. Which I know sounds crazy. But it doesn't really feel like home anymore...my home is not of this world. And it is very lost area and the work is hard...but for now, this is where my harvest is.

an interesting first week

So this week was my first week...and I have to admit, it wasn't what I expected. But God is teaching me things, I guess...It's been interesting. I got moved in and settled in. Within being in my city for 2 days, I had wrecked my car...and not just "got in a wreck" but totalled my car. It was a sad day. And sometimes I wonder about why God allowed that. I'm a poor student who can't afford to get another one and is now totally dependent on other people to really be able to function. I had all these grand plans for my freetime. And now I am stuck on campus or at the mercy of my fellow students. And sometimes, I couldn't help but ask why.

And as I prayed, I felt God telling me that it's time for me to learn some humility...I can't take care of myself... I can't meet all my needs. Instead, I have to trust God to meet them and I have to be willing to humble myself to let others meet my needs. And I have to realize that my plans are not always God's plans. In this situation, He has such a better plan than I do.

After that, I found out that the class that I had been looking forward to soooo very much was cancelled and suddenly, I had a new class that I wasn't prepared for and kind of made me feel inadequate, ill-prepared, and honestly, slightly fearful. But God reminded me that once again, His ways are higher than me...and I can do all things through Him.

From the first week, it should be an interesting semester.

A New Year

I had a great Christmas and a great New Years...but it was a hard holiday season. I realized how much the church in South Asia was my family. I missed them as much as I missed my family when I was there. I wanted to celebrate with them. I missed being with them, praying with them, sharpening them, being sharpened by them. In short, I just missed them. And I wondered why our churches in America don't always feel like a family. What are we missing? Instead of celebrating the holiday together as a family, why do we cancel church two or three times in the midst of the holiday vacation? In South Asia, during the holiday, they celebrate together...because for many of them, the church is their family. They don't have any other family. And I think that we lose some of that feeling here in America...and for that reason, we lose a blessing. In the new testament church, they dined together, lived life together, prayed together. What would life look like if we here in America did that? But if it was more than a social hour? What if it was a recharge time. What if we came together, learned from each other, loved each other, encouraged each other, helped each other, and prepared each other for the time when we went out and lived in a lost world, shining the light of Jesus to those around us? Do I think the church in South Asia is perfect? No. Do I think the church in America is perfect? No. Do I think they can learn from each other? Definitely. And that is my prayer for the new year.