21. Sunset

When I saw that the next word for my writing challenge (that I'm taking my sweet time to complete) was 'sunset' I knew it was going to have to be a post about Boort Blue Moose. I don't think I will ever hear or see the word and not associate it with Boort now, because I witnessed some of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever had the pleasure to lay eyes on while there. 

I've had many people ask me how Blue Moose went and every single time I can't quite seem to find the words to describe it. If I were to try, I'm sure I'd end up talking for quite a while, which is why I always answer something along the lines of "It was AMAZING!" and leave it at that. But it was far more than amazing. It was one of those times where you realise and learn a large amount, and you know that you never could have learnt such things anywhere else. 

I learnt the value of a few sentences and a smile. I learnt the value of continued contact. I learnt the value of sticking around long enough to see a person change. I learnt the value of not giving up. I learnt the value of prayer (yet again), and I learnt the value of brothers and sisters in Christ sticking together and looking out for each other. I learnt the value of kind words and little notes and I learnt the value of spending time with God. I also learnt the value of letting someone kindly tell you what to do, it's ok to give up control sometimes. 

I realised pretty soon after we started our Bible studies that I dearly miss being a YD student, but I was pleased to find that I didn't miss is solely because of the amazing people I met or because of the community atmosphere. I realised that the desire and excitement I had at the start of last year to spend my time studying God's word hasn't gone away. The idea of my schooling and education being what it was last year... well, it's  a wonderful one basically.

Anyway, back to Boort. (Oh, how I wish I could go back right now).

Another thing I learnt is the value of peace and quiet and stars. I've always felt like I'm deliberately trying to sound poetic when I say my soul longs for the country, but it's true. I feel like it's so much easier to see God in everything in the country and that's why I wished I lived in the country. But that being said, I guess it's also important to spend time in places where it may not be quite as easy to find God, because it urges you to look harder, to seek. And you know what the bible says about seeking.

Either way, the whole trip made me realise that sometimes what's important isn't going to seem very important at all to other people, but you have to hold on to what you feel God's calling you to anyway. God places passions and desires in us for a reason and He wants to use them and whether or not that seems scary  to us, it's an adventure worth embarking on. God's pretty good at adventures. 

I've also learnt that while some say home is where the heart is, I think home is where God's heart is. Anything can be home if you remember that God's with you always. If life has taught me anything, it's that buildings and people and places and circumstances change, but He doesn't. 

I've learnt that you can let go of a lot of things in life and still be happy if you're where God wants you. I've learnt that mosquitoes like me far too much, also.

I've learnt that life is fleeting and if you've got a story to share then you might as well be sharing it because you never know what it's going to do for someone else. As Jesse Winchester (I think) said at a youth camp I was at a fair few years ago, what you're going through may not be good but it can be for good. God's got a purpose for everything. 

I've also learnt that we don't really think enough. We don't think often enough about the consequences of our actions, or lack of action. I know I certainly haven't been thinking enough in the past. If we think, truly think, about how amazing it is that we're saved by grace through the cross, and about the amazing gift that is, and about how life changing that is and where we'd be without it... well thinking about those kinds of things makes you a lot more willing to share the news with others. I mean, something I thought about in Boort is basically, what's more important? What someone thinks of me, or the fact that they're going to carry on living without Jesus in their lives?

And with every sunset we saw, every breeze we felt and every moment we celebrated I was yet again reminded how very very lucky I am to be where I am. I'm happy, safe, loved, cared for and healthy (for the most part, haha). I have a roof over my head and I enjoy my life and really, what more is there? I don't need a whole heap of money or possessions or achievements. For far too long I was unhappy with myself and with life, but now I have freedom. Joy is a gift. 

Why would I not want that for other people? Why would I not share that?

It's amazing what 12 days in the middle of no where with 20ish other people in stinking hot heat (that I actually got used to and almost miss now - which is very odd) with very little sleep can do for a person.