Saying Goodbye to Berkeley

It has been a busy week of hanging out with good friends and getting to spend time together and finally not have to think about school! But on the flip side, I've also had to say goodbye to so many--some for the summer, some for who knows how long. I just watched my roommate, Frances, move out her final boxes and drive away, and it's such a bittersweet time. I'm so excited for her to go to Chicago on Summer Project because I know that the Lord is going to do such beautiful things in and through her, but I'm also going to miss her so much. We had a day full of so much fun including the Botanical Gardens, Cheeseboard Pizza, and Chuck E Cheese, and I was reminded of how much life and joy she brings to my life. I honestly have no idea what I would have done without her here this year. She was here to celebrate with me, comfort me, play with me, and live life with me. As I confirmed earlier today, she is my best friend in Berkeley.

I hate goodbyes. So much. But I realize that they're not really goodbyes most of the time. They're usually see you laters. For some, that means see you tomorrow. For others, see you in the fall. And for many, see you in Heaven.

Now I'm preparing myself to say my last goodbyes in the next couple of days because I leave Berkeley on Monday morning. For some reason, leaving myself doesn't seem nearly as difficult as watching others leave. I'm not sure why. But I'm also excited because I'm going to say so many hellos in the next week. I'll be meeting my team for Project, and, in less than a week, be in a country I've never been in before. I guess then I'll be saying some "merhabas". Oh man... life seems to be going by so quickly...

Faithful

So today is May 12. That means I leave for Project in less than two weeks! So insane! I can't believe it... I really can't. 

I'm finally done with support raising. Just in time!  It's actually quite amazing how I finally finished it up. I sent a letter to my uncle (who is not a believer) who immediately objected to my going to the Middle East. Within a couple of weeks of his first objection/call to my mom, he called my mom and asked how much I had left to raise. She told him, and he said that he wanted to write a check out for that much to finish up my support. What?! How did that happen? His heart completely changed about the situation! I was in awe immediately. And then I remembered... God is so faithful. He uses amazing people in amazing ways in order to be faithful to His children. Ah, it's so amazing!

And now I'm finishing up the semester... I have my two finals tomorrow, and then I'm done! Reflecting back, I'm quite pleased about the year. The Lord did some crazy things in my life, and a few things were flipped upside down, but I grew so much because of them, and God was ALWAYS faithful, and I know He always will be.

Summer is almost here!

Oh my goodness! I can't believe it's almost summer. I just finished up classes yesterday, and now just two more weeks of pushing forward, and it'll be summer! And this beautiful weather is really adding to this antsy-ness of getting out of school.

Well, it has been a great week, although SUPER busy! Our last upperclassmen small group was on Tuesday, and it was so cool to hear where each of us will be at some point this summer, and how God's light really will be brought to the WORLD! We had a dessert thing on Wednesday night for all of us ladies who are going on Summer Project this summer! So encouraging to hear where everyone's at, and it's great to see that we're all going to such different places. CHICAGO, OCEAN CITY, ALASKA, EAST ASIA, AND THE MIDDLE EAST! Such a beautiful picture.

And Thursday night we had our Senior Send-Off. Such a sweet time of reflecting over my times with the three seniors in Cru, but definitely pretty sad too. Of course, I shed a few tears, but I have no doubt in my mind that God is going to use them in incredible ways and in such different ways.

And last, but certainly not least, I'm at 90% of my support!!! I'm so close. I have another few weeks to finish up support raising, and I have full faith that God will provide. It's amazing to see how generous people have been, and I am so grateful for those who are prayerfully and/or financially supporting me to go to the Middle East. Countdown: 23 days! So excited :D