Avoiding the Countdown

Hello everyone,
It seems like it's been a lot of routine things lately, going through shifts and helping people out. I think we've all realized how tired and weary we've become, and for me especially, it's difficult to keep going strong. It's not exactly the repetition of our days and our shifts, but I think the relational aspect has taken its toll on me. It seems like we pour ourselves into people so often, and with so many different people, and then after a couple days they always leave. I never thought I'd get so attached or connected with people (I think I mentioned that before) and it's been strange seeing how sad I am when people leave. I know that a lot of my own strength and energy have been spent, so now I'm just relying on God and his power to work through me. We are all getting very very tired, and as we get more tired, the harder it gets to stay patient and loving with one another, especially when we're ready to return home. But we need to persevere because we expect God to work through our exhaustion and do mighty works in this last week at Bergen and the last 9 days of our whole trip.

We have been able to share the Gospel with a lot of people lately, with groups of people coming in or even just couples or people traveling by themselves. We try to give every traveler the kindness and love that we would have loved to receive (and occasionally did) while we were traveling ourselves. One thing I realized yesterday as I was doing about 8 loads of laundry during my shift yesterday, is the surprise that people show when we as staff show kindness to them. I had forgotten what it was like when we were traveling when we were blessed with free laundry facilities, a great kitchen, kind people to talk to, or just someone who showed an interest in you and what you are doing. I realized that this is what we were doing here, along with sharing the Gospel, we are here to just love people. A couple days ago this really hit me when I had night shift one night, and there was a Metallica concert. A lot of the people in the hostel were planning on going to the concert so I kept the doors open later than usual so they would be able to come back afterward. Several people came stumbling in rather drunk, but in those moments and in the day afterward I began to realize how true it is that God loves every single person, and that he finds value in every single person. I was talking to one of my good friends about this, and he was saying that he often finds it difficult to give patience to these people, almost as if they don't deserve as much love as the respectful, kind, good people do. Because of that conversation I myself had my eyes opened to see that God's love... his UNFAILING love (hesed)... is for every single person. Not much separates us from the person next to us. Culture, family life, values and interests may differ, but at the core we are all human beings who have worth because we are made in God's image and he loves us and called us good. So who am I to decide who deserves more love or more compassion? I, a lowly, selfish, prejudiced person probably do not have the same span of knowledge or insight as God does... I don't know, just a guess.... so why am I making judgments about others or treating others like they don't deserve what I should get?

I don't know, I guess that's still a half formed thought in the middle of being processed. The problem is, now that I know that, I am no longer comfortable in my ignorance (or stubbornness) so I am obliged to live what I learn. That's the hard part.

Please pray that we are able to push through these next 9 days, taking them one day at a time. We are entirely incapable of finishing well without God's provision and strength.

Praises! We have been able to share the Gospel with so many people, and even though some are gone already, we have been in touch and deep conversations are still continuing. Pray especially for Kellie (whose grandmother just died recently, and she's started praying), Jannes (who has had a deeply troubled past and is "99.9% sure" that God exists, is loving, and that there is good and evil), Andor (who keeps asking deep questions and is looking for God to reveal himself in his life), and Marcello (a recent Christian, who is asking some big questions and trying to work out his faith).

Love you all! Go have a large hamburger for me.... and go to the beach if you can!!!!