With 2011 coming to an end, I thought it would be nice to reflect on the year that passed by so quickly. So many crazy things happened in 2011. Some good, some bad. I have no regrets. I firmly believe that everything that happens in my life, happens so that God can mold me into the person that HE wants me to be. This will be a two-part blog so here goes part one!
There are several things that stick out to about 2011. I left the job I have had since I was sixteen and was blessed with an even more incredible one. God taught me the importance of not just sitting on a church pew and led me to Caroline Inn & Suites. There were were reunions and goodbyes with my Sailor. I made my first C in college. [Just to name a few]....
When I think about 2011 as a whole, one key thing sticks out. Several years ago, I started praying that God would start to break my heart for what breaks His. I feel like this past year, He answered that prayer in more ways then I ever imagined.
In May of 2011, He led me to Caroline Inn & Suites. It is a motel where most people live longterm. You can find families of four, six, and even eight, living in tiny hotel rooms for months at a time. Some of these children have seen and experienced things that even adults shouldn't experience in a lifetime. Every single day some of them are surrounded by: alcohol, drugs, prostitution, and violence. I will never forget my first visit to the hotel. I immediately fell in love with the children there. They were starving for attention. God let me know real quick that He wanted me there for longer than just the day. Now I am blessed to help out with a church service that is held there every Sunday morning. I am reminded every week how good I've always had it. Even my lowest of lows doesn't compare to what some of these children go through. Their joy and compassion, even through hard times is an inspiration to me. I love "my children" there and I feel blessed to serve with such an amazing group of people. I learned this year that if you ask God to take you out of your comfort zone, He will turn your world upside down so that You can tell others about Him. I don't think God calls us to sit on a church pew week by week. Sometimes we have to get out into the World and share His Name. People are hurting. People are dying everyday and spending an eternity separated from Him. And believe it or not, this is happening in our backyards. Its happening all around us. Children are hungry. Children need clothing. Children need someone to hug them and support them. Children need Jesus. I feel so blessed to have met such amazing people!
Hotel church isn't the only way God answered my prayers to 'break my heart for what breaks His' in 2011.Tune in tomorrow for Part two!
