Something that needs to be hammered into my head....love it.

THE STATION
By Robert J. Hastings

TUCKED AWAY in our subconscious minds is an idyllic vision in which we see ourselves on a long journey that spans an entire continent. We're traveling by train and, from the windows, we drink in the passing scenes of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at crossings, of cattle grazing in distant pastures, of smoke pouring from power plants, of row upon row upon row of cotton and corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of city skylines and village halls.

But uppermost in our conscious minds is our final destination--for at a certain hour and on a given day, our train will finally pull into the station with bells ringing, flags waving, and bands playing. And once that day comes, so many wonderful dreams will come true. So restlessly, we pace the aisles and count the miles, peering ahead, waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.

"Yes, when we reach the station, that will be it!" we promise ourselves. "When we're eighteen. . . win that promotion. . . put the last kid through college. . . buy that 450SL Mercedes-Benz. . . have a nest egg for retirement!"


From that day on we will all live happily ever after.


Sooner or later, however, we must realize there is no station in this life, no one earthly place to arrive at once and for all. The journey is the joy. The station is an illusion--it constantly outdistances us. Yesterday's a memory, tomorrow's a dream. Yesterday belongs to a history, tomorrow belongs to God. Yesterday's a fading sunset, tomorrow's a faint sunrise. Only today is there light enough to love and live.

So, gently close the door on yesterday and throw the key away. It isn't the burdens of today that drive men mad, but rather regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who would rob us of today.

"Relish the moment" is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24, "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, swim more rivers, climb more mountains, kiss more babies, count more stars. Laugh more and cry less. Go barefoot oftener. Eat more ice cream. Ride more merry-go-rounds. Watch more sunsets. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.

Home

This past week I got to spend a couple days with my family for Thanksgiving. There's just something about being at home that feels "right". But ever since I got back from Perú this summer, I've been doing a lot of thinking about this idea of home.

For me, I want home to be that place where I feel protected and loved, where I feel completely at peace, and am completely content. Where everything is perfect, I can rest, be myself, and feel the joy that my heart longs for.

After coming home from Peru this summer (which is probably my closest place to this for various reasons) I came to the unsettling realization that I can’t even tell you where exactly home is for me anymore. I deeply love too many people in different places. And it's not even just a Perú thing.

Too often, I feel like I'm looking forward to the next thing. When I'm here in school, I'm thinking about Perú, missing the culture, the country, and all the different people there that I've come to love so much. I'm still happy here, and continue on with life normally enough [for me ;) ], but in the back of my mind, I can't seem to expel the thought that if only I were in Perú, things would be better somehow. I can't tell you exactly why, but something in my heart truly longs for this place.

In Perú I can honestly say I feel safer and more protected than anywhere else I've ever been. I feel a peace as I finally allow my life to slow down and refocus on what my priorities should be and my relationship with God is always strengthened when I find myself in this country. I am blessed to be surrounded by people who love me, and I have true family..both in and outside of the Scripture Union organization. However, as I was there this summer, the relationships I made and the old friends I saw only made my longing for my real family even greater. I missed being able to talk with my mom, and getting hugs from my daddy. I can't be home without my family. I missed my friends back home. Even in the midst of one of the times when I am most content, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.

When I returned home in late July, I was so happy to see my family. Being so busy at a school that is 7 hours away, and spending my summer overseas, I really needed to be back with them for the short amount of time that I had. However, even as I was back 'home', I was surprised to discover just how much I missed my Asbury friends and the community there. And, of course, missing everyone in Perú was definitely kicking in as well. Home is still home, and it always will be, yet, somehow it isn't. There's more. It's not my only home. And my heart needs to be home. wherever that is.

I'm studying abroad in Spain next semester. I'm so excited for this new experience. But honestly,
I'm scared.

Four months is a long time. And deep down I know, its just another place I'm going to get attached to. Another place for my heart to long for when I leave. Another part of my heart that will be somewhere else..making my search for home even more unreachable.


What I am finally realizing is that in reality I’m far from home. I always have been. I believe we were created for that love, belonging, and peace of home, however our desires far exceed anything that an earthly home can provide us.

We were made for something else....somewhere else...and I finally am starting to understand that I won't ever be truly home; until I’m in heaven. And that day will, literally, be the best day ever.

Summer Video

Perú Summer Video

Felicidad

Happiness.

How is it so easy for me to lose the happiness that I so long for? How is it so easy to pass through each without the joy that is supposed to be flowing from my life?

It is so easy for me to just push off another day of talking with God, and the more I do so, I feel guilty. The joy and love that I need seem so far from me, but I feel unworthy to come back to the place I need to be. I’m scared that I will be met at arms-length with a hesitant welcome. However, these thoughts so obviously do not come from the one who is waiting for me, waiting to fill me with his love—the one who will welcome me with open arms and give me a joy that comes from nowhere else in the world.

Kusi is the Quechan word for Happiness, joy, and contentment, which could not better describe this place. The pure joy, love and happiness that I see here in Angel and Rosa the house parents and even in the boys at times is so evidentially an overflow of what God has poured into their lives.

My prayer is that my life would be an outpouring of the love and joy that Christ has shown to me—so that the people I come in to contact with have no doubt who my heart belongs to.

It's hard to explain the happiness that you find here in Kusi. I don't know if it is the simplicity of taking time to rest, to focus on God, or being faced with the reality of just how blessed you are.




Being reunited with the boys and all the family here in Kusi has been wonderful. As ou first group gets ready to leave on Friday, I can already see God at work, even through this first week. I look forward to sharing more and seeing what all God has in store in the weeks to come! Thanks for your prayers!

Kusi Bound!

All packed and ready to go to Perú!


The lovely Mejia family who let me stay with them during the first couple days of my trip.


My three beautful friends :)


Waiting for our first group to come with my fellow translators (Lauren from DC and Katerina from the Czech Republic) as well as two of the girasoles boys who have since graduated from the program who came to see their friends from Alabama.

We picked up what seems to be an already amazing group of friendly young people from Alabama. We leave for Kusi tomorrow morning at 7, so I appreciate your prayers for a safe journey, a healthy group, and just an overall goodtime as this group does God's will in Yungay, Perú.

I love you all and excited to see how the Lord will work as work team season gets underway.

Thanks for your prayers!!

Here we go again!!

First of all, I want to thank you all for your support for me throughout the summer. After several days with my friends and getting to see the SouthLake group I checked into the Youth Hostal here in Lima, got to meet the other summer interns, and traveled 30 minutes to our Orientation.

After one more day in Lima, were traveling to Kusi tomorrow in Yungay. Im so excited to see everyone again and getting to know the first work group.

Just a quick update..I'll update you all with more soon.

Just wanted to say thank you for yor prayers as we travel to Kusi and look forward to being able to share more soon!

abrazos!!

Catherine