So I have been thinking about the past 5 months I have spent in Australia, working with youth, discipling them, encouraging them, planning activities for them, praying for them, listening to them, believing in them, loving them, hanging out with them, the list goes on. I have been going over in my head the results and fruit I have seen since I've been here. Though it is not guaranteed that you will always see the fruit of your labor in the body of Christ in this lifetime, God has definitely been giving me glimpses into the changes that are happening because I am here.
There is a young girl who comes to Youth Street who I look forward to seeing every Saturday. She is a beautiful, talented, fun, outgoing, bubbly, and pleasant young girl, but she doesn't see herself as any of that, but rather the complete opposite. I've been able to relate to her in a really personal way as I myself have battled and continue to battle identity issues. She is searching for God, and desires a relationship with Him, but is still not sure what that looks like for her. She has told me several times, that the support and love she gets from myself and Youth Street in general has pretty realistically saved her life. She has been coming to the Biblestudy I co-lead pretty regularly and is remaining pretty faithful at the challenge I gave her to read a Psalm a day from her new Bible she received on 5 Day Escape. Because she doesn't quite open up a lot about her view on God and spiritual things, it has been challenging to know where she is at and how I can help her understand what a relationship with God looks like, but I know that God is working in her heart, and I hope that the way I live and love her is an example to what a true relationship with God is like. Like so many young people these days, this beautiful young girl doesn't recognize the potential for greatness that God has placed upon her life, but is falling victim to the lies and cruelty of this earth yet God is holding on to her dearly. Satan will not have this girl's life, it belongs to God, I am completely sure of this, and I have been privileged to see the lover of her soul grasp her heart. Please pray for her to begin to understand this love and feel it every day and pray for wisdom for myself as to how to best help her understand what a relationship with God is.
I miss you all. Thank you for your continued prayer and support.
