Wednesday, December 16, 2009

I know the plans I have for you...

Okay, it’s official.

Next fall, I am transferring up to Seattle Pacific University.

Wow, it’s weird to say that. I am going to go to school in Seattle. Not Azusa. Seattle. I think it’s for the best. Well, I know it’s for the best.

It’s been a really long process, thinking about it, praying about it, figuring out logistics, deciding if I really could do it….but now that I’m finally here, I know this is right. For so many months now, I have been praying that God would give me peace and clarity about whatever I choose, whether to stay in Azusa or go to Seattle. Looking back, I feel like I’ve had that peace all along but thinking about leaving APU is hard. I have made a lot of wonderful friends here and I think it’s an absolutely incredible school. But going to Seattle is something I need to do for myself.

I have wanted to go to SPU and live in Seattle for almost five years now. And looking back, I can’t remember anything I wanted five years ago that I still want today. Other than getting married. J I just feel like, if this has been a constant desire of mine for that long, I need to give it a shot. Because I know myself and I know if I don’t go up there, I will ALWAYS wonder “what if?”

So, next Fall, I’m taking a leave of absence from APU and going up to Seattle. That way, if I get up there and hate it (which I don’t foresee happening, but you never know) I can always come back to APU really easily. But I have to go. I can feel my excitement building whenever I talk about it. I remember how long I’ve wanted this and I think…just go for it.

I think I’m also ready to get out of Southern California. Which I know is kind of humorous considering I’m going to spend four months in South Africa (AHHHH!!!) but I think I want to settle down here, and before I do that, I want to live somewhere else. Experience a different culture within the United States, actually have seasons, be even more independent from my parents than I am now…all of it just sounds so exciting. And my prayer for all of this was that if I’m supposed to go, that God would open the doors that needed to be open. And he opened every single one. Housing, classes, transferring units, transcripts, the minor I wanted, graduating in four years still….everything will work out perfectly.

It’s weird now though. These past few months, I had no idea this would be my last semester at APU. Well, on APU’s campus. Heading into finals week, this is my last week here. And as sad as it is, I can say that with complete peace.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.

Lately, God’s plans have not been taking me down the path I would have predicted a year ago. It’s looking very, very different. But through it all, I have found this joy in the Lord that I’ve never known before. There is something so powerful about blindly following God and obeying His plan for you, even when you don’t understand it. I think that faith in Him can bring so much joy, and it’s a joy I have been blessed to experience lately. So, although I’m really sad to leave Azusa and it will definitely be weird to not be at this school any longer, God has given me a peace and a joy that helps me know it’s the right decision.

And I can’t wait to see what God’s future for me holds.

4 comments:

  1. Oh, YEAY! I'm super excited for you!! Glad you made that decision!

    See you soon. :)

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  2. I totally understand what you mean about blindly following God's plan. I've personally learned to always have faith in Him that everything will be okay in the end. It's a great feeling.
    I'm glad you're future entails exploring more culture within the US! It's definitely a huge shock to move somewhere else and find that not everyone lives like southern Californians haha.

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  3. i'm happy for you!! i'll miss you so much, but i'm so so so excited for you. it's going to be an amazing experience!!

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  4. i just re-read this. and got REALLY excited.

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