The Last Week

It is hard to believe that in a week from today, I will be back in the United States. It is hard to believe that in a week from today, I will no longer be living with over 30 people that I have gotten so close to. It is hard to believe that in a week from today, my summer project in Berlin will be over.

I'm just beginning to process all that I have learned this summer, and it certainly is a lot. It has been an amazing summer, truly amazing. It has not all been fun, but it's amazing how close I have been pushed toward God. There have been some mornings that I do not know how I was able to roll out of bed without God's help, anticipating a day full of intellectual discussions and discouraging conversations. But it has been truly incredible to see how God has used me, in all of my weaknesses and fears, in order to change German students' perspectives on Christians.

After most days on campus, I am completely exhausted. It is hard to feel successful after going on campus and not usually having tangible results. This drains me. Even really good conversations can be draining, which made this problem even harder to overcome. It makes it really hard to love students when you are tired and just want to leave campus for the day. However, I came across a passage in Matthew that has been really encouraging:

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

By loving the german students, I am not just loving them, I am loving God too. That is so much more motivating to me than thinking about trying to love someone that wants nothing to do with me. I no longer need to look at the faces of students and see an intimidating, serious student, but rather I can look at Jesus and how he died on the cross so I could be redeemed and truly live.

When I think about it like that, how can anything but love pour out of me?

We have two more days on campus, then Wednesday night we leave by train for Switzerland where we will be til the 17th relaxing in the Alps and processing all that God has taught us. I know that there is still a lot that I need to uncover.

Please pray:
-That I will love God with all my heart, strength, soul and mind.
-that I will gain wisdom from all that God is teaching me
-Safe transportation to Switzerland

Thanks again for following my journey. Feel free to ask any questions you might have in the comments.