Getting oriented

We just ended our first full day of orientation and I'm already near overwhelmed.  There are around sixty people her who are all incredible and interesting who I've been brought into community with and who I want to get to know, which means that I'm running full octane trying to learn as much about and from every individual.  In addition, we have hours each day of training -- critical cultural competency, simple living, sexual misconduct -- that are fascinating and necessary but also a huge drain on my mental and physical capacities.  As a result I am both ecstatic and exhausted, anxious to get to Austin and sad to leave behind this community, totally disoriented and totally at home.  Best of all -- the hard part hasn't even started yet!  Prayers are deeply, deeply appreciated.

I will try to find time to blog this amazing experience, but I doubt I will have very much.  Once I settle into my site I'll set up a more regular schedule for posting (probably twice a week).

Peace of Christ!

Matthew 6: 25-34

What wondrous love is this!  Faith Presbyterian Church of Huntsville has made an incredibly generous donation to my YAV year even without my desperate pleas.  My fundraising is almost done!  But, of course, you can still donate:


Make checks payable to Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Mail checks to-Office of AdmissionsAustin Presbyterian Theological Seminary100 E 27th StAustin, TX 78705On the memo line include AYAVA House for Piper Madison

My entire life has been filled with reminders that God will provide this is one more shining example.  I'm am so beholden to every donor, not only for their compassion but for their expressions of God's grace.  Matthew 6: 25-34 is one of my favorite verses (I have many); instead of trying to abridge is, here it is in all its poetry.

Do Not Worry

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^b?

28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.