I Won't Miss Summer... July Reflections

...am I really saying that?

I have been anxiously awaiting August since March. Normally there are so many fun things that happen in between those months, including a lighter summer load and much-needed rest. Don't get me wrong, I did get those things between May and the end of July. However, I gained a lot of perspective in quarantine. There were so many students that I loved getting time with that in the span of a few days were no longer coming back to campus. All of my meetings, bible studies, and classes for the apprenticeship moved to online. I'm sure a lot of you had similar experiences, not being able to see friends and family and hoping that it would all be over soon. I was definitely someone who thought that by now, we would be back to normal. Boy, I was so wrong!! 

But I think God has taught me a lot through this time. One thing I was convicted of was that I was putting God in a box. I was putting limitations on Him in my mind, limiting the work He could do in the state of things. "How would ministry look on a college campus when it's shut down and 90% of learning is virtual? How are students supposed to meet people? What are we going to do about small groups if the apartments on campus don't let more than 5 people in them?" Limitation after limitation built up a wall of distrust between me and God concerning this school year. Then I quickly remembered the good that came from quarantine. I became so thankful for technology, and how God allowed me to stay connected to people that I would have not talked to at all for months otherwise. Thank God for masks and social distancing, for public places like parks, for food to go! Thank God for streaming church services, for Zoom staff meetings, for people's generosity to support me in my ministry over the next few years no matter the circumstance. And scenario after scenario, that wall was torn down. God was working outside of the box I had put him in, and I was able to see that good fruit has, and will, come out of this Pandemic.

July was a good month, and normally I would be so sad about it ending because that means that my restful Summer is over. But I am hurrying Summer out the door because the SCHOOL YEAR IS STARTING!! I am so excited to write about August and what God does in our weeks of welcome at UTD. Please be praying that we will be able to effectively minister to the new freshman on campus, and all students for that matter. I look forward to being able to tell you all God has done! 

I don't have any pictures from July, but DON'T WORRY! I'll be sure to take some for August as we begin our back-to-school events!! 

Love,