Hi everyone! In my September post, I introduced the desire to be on the lookout for “God’s fingerprints” throughout my fellows year.
At one of our October roundtables, we discussed one of our summer reads, Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. One of the particularly striking quotes was “We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts. How can God entrust great things to one who will not thankfully receive from Him the little things? “. Once again, it reminded me to be on the lookout for God’s fingerprints over everything: big and small. Ashley shared something she heard once about how we should be able to “rattle off” the ways we saw God in our day. I loved the verbiage “rattle off” and it renewed my challenge of constantly noting how God is moving around me.
So I’d like to rattle off some October fingerprints:
I’m seeing how God hand-picked and is weaving our fellows class community together in such special ways.
I especially felt so loved by the fellows in how they surprised me and celebrated me for my birthday. Shoutout girl Hunter and Simas for baking me a bomb flourless chocolate cake and shoutout to everyone for my new squishmellow.
The state fair was just FUN and the timing of us hopping on the skylift right as the fireworks went off had to be a good and perfect give from above.
Fellows asking about my chronic back pain, offering me rides, etc. helps me feel the Lord see me and help me.
Monday night girl’s nights have been so special and I’m so thankful for a vulnerable, real, silly time with them. October girl’s nights also meant two nights of roasting marshmallows.
Linda May gets fairy hair (this gets it’s category)
A group of fellows and YAM/student ministry leaders attended the Trinity homecoming soccer game. Besides the fact that this homecoming game was soccer and not football, it was unlike any high school homecoming game I’d been to because it included a fair with many tents with activities, games, and food. I noticed one tent with ladies doing free tinsel fairy hair (impermanent sparkle strands). I immediately reported this to Linda May who has been “praying over getting fairy hair for a very long time”. By the grace of God, our very own Linda May was the LAST recipient of free fairy hair. Not only that, but because of her overwhelming gratitude the generous fairy hair lady gave Linda May EIGHT strands when the other customers only got four. Wow. I could end my God fingerprints here for the month but I’ll keep going.
Work
I saw the Lord answer my prayers this month at work. Starting in the role of a medical assistant at NeighborHealth was overwhelming and stressful. There’s a lot to remember and keep track of in a timely and efficient manner. Sometimes the schedules get backed up and the day becomes stressful and long. These days are usually Tuesdays. I vividly remember praying on Monday night over the anxiety I felt about work after having one of those Tuesdays the week before. The next morning at work we had a highly unusual amount of people who did not show up for their appointments which made the day extremely manageable. It’s good for people to come to get care and to be busy and hardworking but I felt the Lord’s blessing on me that morning in letting me have a “breather” and surprising me with an easy morning when I had pictured it anxiety-filled.
I see God’s good and purposeful placement for me in who I’m working with, what I’m learning, and how I’m enjoying my work. I always think about the non-fellows year alternative and feel so unmeasurably blessed for this opportunity that led me to NeighborHealth.
Class/Host fam/Other:
David Spickard took our Just Leadership class on a field trip to Neighbor to Neighbor and I loved seeing what the Lord has done with dreamers who had a heart for people.
The beautiful fall leaves, weather, and sunsets! The Spickards had us over for dinner and I had to pull over three times on the way there to take pictures of the pretty sky and trees.
YAM holiday event - It’s been so fun to get to know the fellows alum/young adults who are involved at Apostles. I see the Lord’s provision in new community.
I’ve found my host family home to be such a comfort. I feel especially blessed by Barbie and her gracious care for me and their dog Chip. Both of them have basically become my therapist. I’ve never had a dog and it’s been such a treat to have dog snuggles when I come home.
Thanks for tuning in for my big and small God winks this month! Every day is a gift!
Virginia
