Hello Hometown!

My Cambodia/Vietnam outreach team on DTS graduation day:

Ben, Madeleine, Bekah, Marta, Alexis, Victoria, Tina, Stephanie, Me, and Zach. 

Sarah, our other team member, has followed God's call and decided to stay in Cambodia!

Seattle greeted me with a refreshing blast of brisk, cold air as I stepped off of the plane last night. I guess my shorts and sandals just aren't going to cut it anymore...

My last week in Kona was a pivotal time for wrapping up this whole DTS experience. Coming back to the states and trying to sort through the thoughts and emotions of outreach in Asia, in addition to the culture shock of being back in a Westernized country, left me feeling a little lost and listless. But as the week progressed, God's faithfulness and grace in this whole process became more and more apparent. I have been slowly coming to a greater realization that through the good times and the difficult, God is helping me grow in love for Him and for others.

There was something different about each one of us, all 40-some DTS students, as we worshipped together this week. I began to understand more how God had been faithfully working through the last three months to bring us to a richer and deeper understanding of His love not only for those who are lost but for us as His children. God has done what was prophesied over us even before we began DTS together - that we would be family. At the end of the week many tears were shed as we gave each other long hugs and said our goodbyes.

I'm back at home now, writing this on my bed with my cat snuggled close by. The noise from the tv of the Huskies playing Purdue filters into my room and the reality of being at home becomes a little more tangible to my tired and still somewhat jet-lagged mind and body. I'm sure I'll be thinking through all the things I experienced and saw over these last six months for a while to come. But the overarching theme threaded through all that I've gone through, I have already come to grasp: God is good. He is faithful and so gracious to us in our weakness. His love covers over our fears and our failures. He truly can change us to make us more like Him. 

To all of you who have been writing me messages or just thinking of me or praying for me, THANK YOU!!! I tried my best to reply to people when I had internet connection these last few months. If I didn't give an apt reply, I apologize!

I feel like God reminded me of a song this week as an encouragement for me and maybe for you :) These are key words that I've taken to heart as I readjust to being home and trust in the Lord for the future:

My life is in Your hands...

Final Photo of Compassion DTS 2008-2009