There's Room in the Garden

Quick recap of what I've been up to since I last posted: We finished BorderWalk in August and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I can't wait for next year when we can (hopefully) walk our normal full route. September meant it was back to work and I was on the hospitality team here on base. I stepped off of that team in September though as we started to prepare for the DTS (Discipleship Training School) by beginning staff training as well as bonding as a staff team, praying for the program and for the participants.

We have six people from all over the world and after a two week quarantine period we officially started on October 26th with orientation week. We've just finished our first lecture week learning about the character and nature of God from Oliver and Kimberly Brune and it was such a great first week of lectures!

I felt like Kimberly and Oli did a phenomenal job of taking us through the story of the Scriptures and allowing the Trinity to reveal Themselves. It was a beautiful week that, personally, meant realizing more and more how kind my God is, and sitting in the love He has for humanity. To the right is the result of my processing time, writing is often how I sift through all of my emotions and thoughts and through this piece especially I felt God speaking. I hope you enjoy, and would love to know your thoughts if you feel like sharing. This week I felt overwhelmed with such sadness at how many people feel they're barred from entering God's garden. I think it's often our own stipulations, our own pride and our own ideas of what God expects from us that keep us from entering the garden and accepting the embrace of the Father. If we'd only turn our heads and see that He's always been there, calling out and ready to receive us, just as we are. A question I've been asking myself this week is whether I've been a part of welcoming people in the garden or been part of what makes them feel there's no room for them. Have I embraced and loved only those that think the same way I do, have the same exact theology as I, meet the criteria I set for them? Is there a fear that if others enter with their own ideas of who God is that there won't be enough room for me? Am I so paranoid at keeping my own spot in the garden that I've forgotten that there's infinite room for all? Or have I stretched out my arms to welcome any that Jesus would? Alongside the sadness I felt this week, there was so much hope that filled me. Hope because God is so good, Jesus is so full of love, and they are so patient and willing to keep a space open for anyone and everyone.

Next week we have Jonny and Jenn Clark speaking about the parent heart of God and I'm excited to watch our participants interact with new ways of viewing the Trinity that they might not have before. God is Father & Mother and learning more about both attributes have opened my eyes and heart to experience God's love more fully. I'm excited!! Are you excited yet? I'm aware I sound like a broken record at this point but excitement and joy are the biggest things I'm feeling as this DTS begins. Excitement for all that the participants will learn, and for what they have to teach me. Excitement for working with the rest of the staff team and all that I have to learn from them. Excitement for all of the healing, understanding, love and transformation that I know God is capable of bringing in the next short six months (and beyond!) to everyone involved. Staffing DTS's is a big reason I felt to return to Rostrevor and to be here at the beginning of one with some small glimpse of the goodness ahead fills me with joy. The support (financially, prayerfully, and through encouragement) of you all is part of what makes this possible and I want to give the biggest thank you to everyone who's been apart of this journey. I'm a part of something I know God has called me to and I couldn't be here without you. Thank you, so very deeply.

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Here are some photos from the last few months!

captions: 1-3) Some photos from BorderWalk (@borderwalk20_ on insta) back in August! 4) I went to London on holiday in September with a few friends! 5) Hiking views. 6-7) the DTS! First photo is from a staff training day, second is the staff and all of our participants. 8) Fabienne from Lebanon giving us some Arabic lessons! 9) learning some context before a time of intercession for China, specifically the city of Nanjing. 10) Autumn has come to Rostrevor. 11) Home sweet home!