I'm finally home!

My time in Los Angeles has been a time of incredible growth for me spiritually. Here are a few of the main things I will be taking away from this summer and applying to my life:

• · The importance of a community of Christians with a heart for their neighborhood
• · The importance of being surrounded by and worshipping with a diverse group of Christians
• · Sharing my faith should be a lifestyle, not just something to make an effort about once in a while
• · Taking the initiative to start spiritual conversations is up to me, but all of the results of the conversations are God’s responsibility, not mine
• · There is so much more to poverty than just lack of money, and there is so much more to helping a person in poverty than just giving him or her money and physical resources

As I look back at what I first wrote as I was preparing to leave for California, I remember the mixture of nervousness and excitement I was feeling. I am also nervous and excited right now about my future as I adjust back to life in Indiana and as I will soon go back to campus to start a new school year. I have learned and experienced so much this summer, and it will be difficult to not expect others to already know what I have learned over the past months. Life will be much different at Ball State than it was in Los Angeles, and it will be difficult to continue living out on campus what I learned in that city. But the Scripture verse that I kept close to my heart before heading to California is the same verse I keep close to my heart now: Philippians 4:6-7. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

To those of you who have helped make our summer possible by financial contributions: thank you!!! And to those of you who have been praying for me and for us this summer: thank you especially!!! I have learned more of the amazing power of prayer this summer, and so I can say without a doubt that your prayers have been essential to our time in Los Angeles. Thanks once again for reading my blog this summer! This is my last entry; if you have ANY further questions about my summer, please ask me! Thanks again, and God bless you!