Things are changing! Firstly, the obvious: I've finished all my coursework and exams for the year, so when I return to school for the fall I'll be a junior. I've declared my major (Anthropology) and have--in a move that surprised even me, but that now thrills me--decided to pursue a pre-med track in addition to a minor in Global Health and Health Policy. In the fall I'm taking on a new leadership role in the Gospel Ensemble with which I sing. And next year, I won't be living with roommates for the first time since I've been at school, and I'll really miss the three young women I've been blessed to live with for the past two years.
My summer adventure begins in earnest tomorrow, with a wedding weekend to celebrate my "best cousin," as we used to call each other, getting married. After that I'll be heading to New York, where I'll be training as a doula (a non-medical support person for women in labor) with a training seminar and lots of reading. After that, I make my way to Ghana, for about 5 weeks of working in maternal health--details still to be 100% finalized, but right now I'm looking to split my time between working with a childbirth education organization called Eve's Foundation and a clinic in central Ghana. Still praying about housing, and getting details figured out, but no reason to worry.
But mostly I'm praying for clarity, and clarification, this summer--for God to do some work on me that He needs to do, to completely obliterate my pride, to draw me away from all distractions, to renew and strengthen me. As Henri Nowen writes (nice little summary on this blog--also, as an aside, Henri Nouwen is the man!! Really.), there's a key shift that must happen in our spiritual walks that carries us from being profoundly lonely people to living as people who understand and rest in solitude. I'm a bit worried about being lonely this summer (I'm spending the first two months more or less all on my own, though I'm blessed to be staying with a friend's sister while I'm in New York), but I am really asking God to help me love His solitude. In general, I want God to let me see part of His heart for this part of my summer, so I keep my eyes open to where He's leading.
What are you praying for for this summer?
