God changes plans. Mine have been no exception. I know I have been horridly unfaithful about updates, but in the meantime, God has radically changed my course for this semester.

            ARISE was beautiful. It finished beautifully. I feel like I have seen God like never before – as though I were allowed a glimpse beyond the curtain into the Heavenly gates, to the marriage table of the Lamb, and into the presence of God Almighty, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. From September till December I saw the entire Great Controversy spread out before me, and I have seen the heart of an eternally loving and powerful, yet servant God. I am confident like never before that the time of Jesus’ return and our great Deliverance is at hand. We are on Jordan’s stormy banks, and when we the people of God can gather a handful of faithful who aren’t afraid to cross and take foreboding Canaan in the name of our God, this story will be brought to its end . . . and we will sing Hallelujah in the presence of the Lamb, taste the fruit of His table, and come alive as never before in the peace of restored intimacy with our Creator. I am eager and excited to participate in this Divine Cause to whatever end it may lead. ARISE has shown me Jesus like never before, and I cannot leave and be the same afterwards. Though it has been sad to transition out of the atmosphere of apostolic community like we shared at ARISE, we are all confident in our God’s faithfulness to us His messengers, and are certain of our reunion whether here or There.
            Back down to Earth . . . In the meantime, the original plan to go to Zambia changed in late November. Through many prayers, God I sensed that God was leading me in another direction. This left me at the end of my Bible college semester with a three-week Christmas break ahead, and then absolutely no idea where I would be come January. I found myself on my knees, as Abraham Lincoln said, “because I often found that I had nowhere else to go.” My rest between ARISE and second semester was a good one. Family and friends were encouraging. Meanwhile, I felt in constant stress as to where God would open a door. I had no plans to return to college for second semester. It was important to me to take this whole year off, should God allow it.

(Brief interlude: I am aware of and disgusted by this uninteresting style of writing that I am doing, but it’s really my own fault. If I had been more faithful regarding blog updates, I would not now be chronicling events in a drab, summational writing manner. So I’m sorry. More interesting stories to come shortly :) )

            By the middle of my time at home, there were a few potential opportunities available. Many prayers, days, and quiet hours of meditation later, I accepted a call to be a chaplain at Nile Union Academy in Cairo, Egypt for the semester. Within a week, I was immunized, packed, and on a plane for the Middle East. Today I am nearly four weeks to the day into my time here, and am overjoyed to know that I am in the center of God’s will for me.

(Chilling in my new hometown of Gabal Asfar)