Set Apart

It seems like yesterday it was the Christmas season and I was reflecting on that first half of my Gap year and making resolution for the second half.  Then I turn around and today it is already February.  Growing up, I have been told countless times that I will blink and the time that I am in will be over.  I need to stop now in the moment and appreciate it. 

As one way to do that, I want to write a little bit about this last month.  Belgium in January is unlike Belgium at any other time of the year.  It is exam period meaning that students finish class in December and immediately go into solitary seclusion for four to six weeks, living and breathing only their text books until exams finish the first week of February.  Literally, the city goes silent and dead because the students are all locked in their rooms. 

The Belgian version of myself studying for my Dutch exam

As you can imagine, the lack of students diminishes the need for student missionaries during this period, so we used our month of January to look for opportunities to serve. 

One of the things that the girls did was spend 2 to 3 days a week helping out mothers in the community- babysitting, doing laundry, making meals, cleaning, etc.  For me, I actually really enjoyed this opportunity.  Not only was my help openly impacting these families, but it was wonderful to get to know the women in the community and spend time with their families.  This dose of family life was something that I needed and hadn’t realized how much I missed. 

As a team, we were also able to spend more time this month at the soup kitchen and shelter in Brussels.  For me, it was good to get my hands dirty and really be grateful for the ways that I have been blessed.

Another thing that we had time for this month was projects for Kairos, the international Christian youth program that the Gap program is sponsored by.  We share an office with the Kairos Europe and Middle East Director, so there is always Kairos work to be found.  It was really inspiring to get a chance to work with people in other countries who are doing the same thing there that we are trying to do here.  We were able to exchange stories, laugh about similar problems, offer encouragement, and above all see the way that the Lord is working on an international level. 

Lastly, with our more open schedule, we were able to take time to plan for this next semester.  I am filled with anticipation and excitement for all that is in store for us this upcoming semester, for the ways that the Lord wants to work in Pharos through the ‘Life in the Spirit Seminar’ that we are running, for the relationships that will grow and friendships that will be formed, and for the adventures that are still awaiting me in this year set apart.