As I sit down to write, a cascade of thoughts and emotions flood my mind. I fear that no matter what words fill this page in the following moments, words won't do justice to what has happened in the last two months.
I last left off returning back to school after a month and a half adventure that took me to Cleveland for brain surgery, back home for a month of recovery, to Indianapolis for a conference with 3,000+ students and back to Columbus, Ohio to start Winter quarter at The Ohio State University... I don't know what I was thinking assuming things were going back to "normal" or that the adventure was ending, it was really just beginning.
The past ten weeks of my life have most definitely been ten of the most challenging, draining, life-giving, growing, emotion-provoking weeks of my life. Its funny looking back now to think that I was going to be able to go back to my "normal" fast-paced, busy, restless schedule. Psych. I am sure that I amused a lot of my friends as I tried to do this the first week or so back at school. Quickly did I realize my body wasn't done healing, and that I was about to enter into the season of rest that I thought I had already passed out of.
Rest. To be honest I loathe the word. Rest reminds me of every thing that I cannot achieve on my own, of my weakness, of my need for something more than my own drive to be someone. And yet, at the same time; its the very thing that my soul has been longing for. Why is it that we fear what we need the most? That we run from the very thing is calling out our name? I havn't an answer to either of these questions, but they are realizations that I have come to.. well realize in my own life. So I had a choice. Was I going to stop running?
It took the first 4 or 5 weeks of the quarter for me to break down my pride, and admit that these things were true. It's beem amazing how God has givien me the opportunity to step out in faith and surrender to Him more and more every day since I have resolved that things needed to change. One of the hardest things has been the lack of time spent with people that I love. I felt as if I was letting them down by not being as involved in their lives, but God has shown me that time spent alone with Him far surpasses the fellowship that I have with the amazing people He placed me in community with, and when I came to see that, relationships started to go deeper, funny how that works huh? Nothing is better than being alone with the one who has the power and the ability to give abuntantly the good things that we desire.
Another area that I have had to trust Him in is with preparing to head back to South Asia for the summer. I have yet again begun the the process of preparing myself for the emotional, physical and spiritual adventure it is to spend two months in a country with rich and life giving culture. I have the amazing privledge of going back as student staff, and I am excited to get to lead both girls and guys alike in another crazy adventure. Right now I am in the process of raising the $5,950 that it costs for the trip this summer. I have sent out letters and am trusting the Lord to bring it all in as he has in the past. If you want to know more about my trip or are interested in reading my support letter, email me at makenzie15.5@gmail.com, and if you feel led to, you can support me financially online at https://give.ccci.org/give and entering my name, MaKenzie Frank, into the search bar.
It's funny because after rereading all that, I feel that I really didn't do a remendous job at portraying the last 10 weeks, but hey, it is what it is haha..
The adventure continues.. of that I am sure..
I keep my eyes always on the LORD.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful[a] one see decay. --Psalm 16:8-10
by His grace...
MaKenzie
I last left off returning back to school after a month and a half adventure that took me to Cleveland for brain surgery, back home for a month of recovery, to Indianapolis for a conference with 3,000+ students and back to Columbus, Ohio to start Winter quarter at The Ohio State University... I don't know what I was thinking assuming things were going back to "normal" or that the adventure was ending, it was really just beginning.
The past ten weeks of my life have most definitely been ten of the most challenging, draining, life-giving, growing, emotion-provoking weeks of my life. Its funny looking back now to think that I was going to be able to go back to my "normal" fast-paced, busy, restless schedule. Psych. I am sure that I amused a lot of my friends as I tried to do this the first week or so back at school. Quickly did I realize my body wasn't done healing, and that I was about to enter into the season of rest that I thought I had already passed out of.
Rest. To be honest I loathe the word. Rest reminds me of every thing that I cannot achieve on my own, of my weakness, of my need for something more than my own drive to be someone. And yet, at the same time; its the very thing that my soul has been longing for. Why is it that we fear what we need the most? That we run from the very thing is calling out our name? I havn't an answer to either of these questions, but they are realizations that I have come to.. well realize in my own life. So I had a choice. Was I going to stop running?
It took the first 4 or 5 weeks of the quarter for me to break down my pride, and admit that these things were true. It's beem amazing how God has givien me the opportunity to step out in faith and surrender to Him more and more every day since I have resolved that things needed to change. One of the hardest things has been the lack of time spent with people that I love. I felt as if I was letting them down by not being as involved in their lives, but God has shown me that time spent alone with Him far surpasses the fellowship that I have with the amazing people He placed me in community with, and when I came to see that, relationships started to go deeper, funny how that works huh? Nothing is better than being alone with the one who has the power and the ability to give abuntantly the good things that we desire.
Another area that I have had to trust Him in is with preparing to head back to South Asia for the summer. I have yet again begun the the process of preparing myself for the emotional, physical and spiritual adventure it is to spend two months in a country with rich and life giving culture. I have the amazing privledge of going back as student staff, and I am excited to get to lead both girls and guys alike in another crazy adventure. Right now I am in the process of raising the $5,950 that it costs for the trip this summer. I have sent out letters and am trusting the Lord to bring it all in as he has in the past. If you want to know more about my trip or are interested in reading my support letter, email me at makenzie15.5@gmail.com, and if you feel led to, you can support me financially online at https://give.ccci.org/give and entering my name, MaKenzie Frank, into the search bar.
It's funny because after rereading all that, I feel that I really didn't do a remendous job at portraying the last 10 weeks, but hey, it is what it is haha..
The adventure continues.. of that I am sure..
I keep my eyes always on the LORD.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful[a] one see decay. --Psalm 16:8-10
by His grace...
MaKenzie
