This year I volunteered as a WOW leader. When the freshmen arrive to Ouachita, they begin Freshman Orientation that we have lovingly deemed WOW (Welcome to Ouachita’s World). There is lots of “mingling,” several mixers, and a few large group sessions that are designed to help freshmen meet other people and learn how to “do life” at Ouachita. Pray for these young people and the many friendships that they are hopefully developing right now!
For me, this is welcome BACK… one last time. Lord willing, I will finish my classes this semester, student-teach in the Spring, and graduate on May 12, 2012. It’s very bittersweet for me. I look forward to what God has for me in the future and the many ways He will use me as a “real” teacher, but I love Ouachita’s “bubble” dearly and I do not want to say goodbye. But I do intend to make the best of the time left that God has given me. I know that when the time comes to say goodbye, He will have completely prepared me.
Being around the many freshmen has reminded me of the experiences I had during my freshmen year. I was terrified, expectant, lonely, and hopeful. The biggest lesson that God taught me through those experiences was to never confuse being uncomfortable or unhappy with being outside of God’s will. He doesn’t always call us to what is comfortable or easy. Paul refers to his sufferings as “marks of Jesus” (Galatians 6:17) and claims that he “will boast of the things that show my weakness” (2 Corinthians 11:30). I believe these marks are emotional as well as physical. My freshman year wasn’t always easy, but I finally realized that I was still in God’s will at Ouachita. After learning to lean on and trust in Him, I came to a place of rest and comfort. In that place, He also allowed me to settle in at Ouachita in such a way that now I don’t even want to leave! He is good. He is faithful. He has a plan for each of these freshmen and also for me!
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