Day Twenty Eight: Four Weeks, I'd Say More Like Four Months 6/27/2016

     Time is a funny thing. We, as most humans, measure time in increments of 24 hour days, 7 of those days consist of a week, and 4 weeks consist of a month; but what if time was measured in increments of moments of community, the bonds forged between brothers and sisters in Christ, the moments of laughter and of deep sorrow, the moments where we truly experience the Holy Spirit moving in our hearts and transforming our lives. That is how I want to measure time. The time spent here in Ocean City has been amazing and truly life changing. It seems weird to look at the people I've become so comfortable with and grown to love and say that I met them only twenty eight days ago. Summer mission time is not adequately measured in minutes, days, or weeks, but rather by experience. 

     Since I last wrote, so much has happened, this past week was the last full week where the staff will be with us, so very busy. Yesterday alone was crazy. We went to church in the morning, and then at 1pm began women's day. We stated out with a game of kick ball, in which our team won 14-6. I did surprisingly well, despite the obvious. After, we went to the staff girls apartment and pampered ourselves with Never Been Kissed staring Drew Barrymore, nail painting, and crafts. The evening consisted of catered Panera and fancy dresses, oh yeah, and a surprise cake for my birthday :)

      We then went through an hour or so of quiet time, where our disciplers and their discipler prayed over us. It was amazingly painful. This past week God has been throwing a lot at me in the realm of our suffering on earth and his goodness. Not only was the sermon that I listened to online on Daniel and his struggles as well as Shadrack, Meshack, Abendigo, but the very next day Shelby Abbot spoke on Daniel 3 at family night. Needless to say, I got the message God. So when we prayed yesterday, all of the emotions I had been dealing with the entire week, just kind of spilled out. It was very humbling for me. I found a song that perfectly sums up this week for me, Thy Will by Hilary Scott, the lead singer of Lady Antebellum.

       Thy will be done (x3)

I know you are good / but this don't feel good right now / And I know you think / 

Of things I could never think about / it's just hard to count it all joy /

Distracted by the noise / Just trying to make sense / of all your promises / 

Sometimes I gotta stop/ Remember that you are God / and I'm not / So....

Thy will be done (x3)

Like a child on my knees all that comes to me is 

Thy will be done (x3)

Thy will 

     This week as I prepare to give my testimony on both Wednesday at family night, and at church on Sunday, I ask that you pray for God to use me to speak to those listening, that my testimony may move people. I ask for boldness and confidence as well as peace. Also pray for the hearts of both our coworkers and the people we outreach to this week, that God will soften their hearts to the gospel. Thank you all for your continuous prayers and love. 

     Lots of love, Maddy