Seeking to Understand: Roman Catholic Indulgences

Why Discuss Indulgences?

I think my secondary calling in life is to be a bridge-builder, a peacemaker beckoning people into unity with God and each other. (My primary calling is to dwell in the love of God and love him in return with all of my heart and soul and mind and strength.) Thus, my motivation for writing this piece is to awaken people to see from the perspective of “the other,” to stir the waters and start a conversation so that we can seek Truth together – leading us to unity and deeper knowledge of God and one another. That said, I know that this topic is controversial… that’s partially why I’m fascinated by it. I think it’s important to seek to understand the things that separate us, not just sweep them under the rug and aim for a superficial sense of unity. Peacemaking necessarily involves leaning into tough discussions, not shying away from conflict. Will you lean in with me as we seek Truth together? I hope to get a dialogue going about many topics, but first let’s see how this one goes. In your responses, please keep the goal of unity in mind and remember that our Heavenly Daddy wants all his kiddos to be respectful and love each other. Okay, so, indulgences…

Since a lot of people are not well educated about indulgences, I will first offer some description and history about them before we dive into the juicy aspects – the Protestant objections, how I have come to be open to indulgences as spiritually beneficial, and proposed next steps towards unity in light of this divisive issue. I invite you to read this with an open mind, and try to withhold any objections to the end.

Defining Indulgences

To start off, let’s look at the official definition of an indulgence from the Roman Catholic Catechism:

“An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.”

If you’re still scratching your head over what this means and how this works, you are not alone. But let me try to hash this out better for you.

Here’s an example to simplify the description, borrowed from my friend and mentor Jeff Terhune. Imagine that you are playing baseball in the yard and you accidentally hit the baseball through your neighbor’s window. You go to your neighbor and apologize, and they heartily forgive you. That’s like Jesus forgiving the guilt of our sins. However, is the window still broken? Yes. God made human nature such that we must fix the window to make everything right. That still broken window demands  temporal punishment as a consequence due to the sin. Thus, an indulgence could be understood as fixing the broken window.

This concept is closely linked with penance / repentance, which is the active turning away from sin back to God, thus replacing our bad choices with good ones.

Indulgences can be obtained for yourself or on behalf of someone who has passed away. (Calm yourself, Protestants… count to 10 and read to the end.)

There are two types of indulgences. First, partial indulgences will bring freedom from a portion of the consequences of your sins which have not been fully repented from. Second, plenary indulgences are full indulgences that completely absolve all of the consequences of the sins. We will dive into more detail later, but I want to first give you this excerpt from the Catechism regarding plenary indulgences: “A conversion which proceeds from a fervent charity can attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no punishment would remain.” And that’s ultimately what it comes down to – the power of a change of heart.

Before we explore the Scriptural support for indulgences, let me give you one more example to illustrate this concept. Let’s say a man habitually gives into the sin of gluttony, which leads to him having diabetes. Though he may ask Jesus for forgiveness for his sin of gluttony, and he can be forgiven (taking away the guilt – THANK YOU JESUS), he still has diabetes. The diabetes is a temporal punishment. However, charitable acts are a type of indulgence. He can choose to do the charitable act of refusing to eat meat or dairy products, no longer fueling the factory farm industry. Not to go into a vegan tirade here, if you watch the food documentary Forks Over Knives, you can learn how abstaining from animal products has cured many people from type 2 diabetes. Thus, it is possible to remit  temporal punishment for  sin (ex. diabetes) due to your good works / indulgences.

Scriptural Support

Now that you know what an indulgence is, you may be wondering, what does the Bible have to say about this? I have collected a list of some of the Scriptural support for the systematic theology pertaining to indulgences. I’ve dispersed several verses throughout this post and listed more at the end for further pondering.

You can read the list below, which gives insight into related notions such as the authority of the Church to ascribe such indulgences, the importance of living holy lives, the impact of our prayers on others, the value of suffering in the purification of sin (AKA purgatory…Protestants: breathe, count, continue), etc.

First, the Church is understood in Scripture to have the authority to ascribe indulgences because Jesus told Peter in Mt. 16:19, “I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

Also, we are called to press on to holiness during this life. Paul says in Phil. 3:12, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.”

Cleansing from sin is necessary. Zech. 13:1 says, “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.”

This cleansing (where we get the idea of purgatory) seems to be what this passage is referring to: “In the whole land, says the Lord, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” - Zech. 13:8-9.

We have a role to play in this purification. Dan. 12:10 says, “Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but those who are wise shall understand.”

What you don’t see in Scripture is any direct teaching specifically mentioning the word “indulgences.” But the ideas are there… read on.

History of Indulgences

You may be wondering, how did the understanding of indulgences come about in history?

Though the official doctrine regarding indulgences didn’t surface until the Council of Trent (in response to Reformers protesting the abuses of indulgences), there is quite a long history pertaining to indulgences prior to that.

We know from 2 Maccabees that Jews throughout history have had similar practices, though they didn’t use the language of indulgences. They prayed for the dead and sacrificed on the behalf of those who died. To this day, all Jews and orthodox Christians pray for the dead (part of the Communion of Saints), out of spiritual solidarity, petitioning that their merits be applied to others (Protestants, calm down – I hear you growling).

There is considerable reason to believe that indulgences were a part of the life of the early Church, due to the testimony of several historical documents. Some main supporting quotes are below, and several more are listed at the end of this post.

222 A.D. - Tertullian - “[N]ow you are ascribing this power [of granting indulgences] even to your dear martyrs. As soon as someone of his own accord has taken on the fetters...at once the adulterers are swarming about…[and] prayers are humming in the air... Men and women crowd [them]...beg for [their] blessing...and return from there as [restored to] the community.” (On Modesty Chapter 22)

And (250 A.D.): “[W]hen some of the lapsed…[demanded] the peace that had been promised to them by the martyrs and confessors...I wrote twice to the clergy...[that] if any who had received a certificate [of indulgence] from the martyrs were departing from this life, having made confession, and received the imposition of hands on them for repentance, they should be remitted to the Lord with the peace promised them by the martyrs.” (Letter 14 or 20 Paragraph 3)

251 A.D. - St. Cyprian - “...Certainly we believe that the merits of the martyrs and the works of the just will be of great avail with the Judge...” (The Lapsed, 17)

314 A.D. - Council of Ancyra - “[T]he bishops have the right, after considering the character of [a sinner's] conversion, either to deal with them more leniently, or to extend the time [of penance]. But, first of all, let their life before and since be thoroughly examined, and let the indulgence be determined accordingly.” (Canon 5)

~390 A.D. - St. Ambrose - “For he is purged as if by certain works of the whole people, and is washed in the tears of the multitude; by the prayers and tears of the multitude he is redeemed from sin, and is cleansed in the inner man. For Christ granted to His Church that one should be redeemed through all, just as His Church was found worthy of the coming of the Lord Jesus so that all might be redeemed through one.” (Penance, 1, 15, 80)

740 A.D. - St. Egbert of York - “For him who can comply with what the penitential prescribes, well and good; for him who cannot, we give counsel of God's mercy. Instead of one day on bread and water let him sing fifty psalms on his knees or seventy psalms without genuflecting. But if he does not know the psalms and cannot fast, let him, instead of one year on bread and water, give twenty-six solidi in alms, fast till [3:00 pm] on one day of each week and till Vespers on another, and in the three Lents bestow in alms half of what he receives.” (Penitential Chapter 13 Canon 11)

1095 A.D. - The Council of Clermont - “Whoever, out of pure devotion and not for the purpose of gaining honor or money, shall go to Jerusalem to liberate the Church of God, let that journey be counted in lieu of all penance.” (Canon 2)

Granted, by the time Martin Luther came on scene in the 16th century, there were some questionable practices regarding indulgences. For instance, Rome was in debt from the construction of St. Peter’s cathedral, so Johann Tetzel was hired to preach that people could be granted indulgences if they donated money to the Church. Those ignorant of how grace works got confused into thinking they were “buying” forgiveness for sins, which would be a form of simony (the name derives from Simon the Gnostic who tried to buy the power of the Apostles and was admonished for it - see Acts 8:18-23) – a condemned practice. Over time, it was (perhaps jokingly) understood that when a coin clangs in the coffer, a soul springs out of purgatory into heaven. That practice of indulgences sparked Martin Luther to pursue reforming the Church, as delineated in his 95 Theses.

Current Roman Catholic Understanding

To be honest, not much has changed in the doctrine of indulgences, only that it was further explained more carefully thanks to the Council of Trent in response to the Protestant Reformers. This is the way most doctrine has been deepened in understanding over 2 millenia. One noteworthy prohibition following the Reformation is that almsgiving was prohibited from being attached to future official proclamations of indulgences, so that God’s grace wouldn’t be confused with simony.

Catholics continue to understand indulgences as temporal satisfaction for sin, whether partial or plenary. To obtain a plenary (full) indulgence, more goes along with that:

1.      Be completely detached from all sin

2.      Pray for the pope

3.      Go to confession

4.      Receive communion

5.      (All of the above in addition to) the indulgence itself:

a.      Act of service

b.      Pilgrimage

c.      Fasting

d.      Prayer

I feel like I need to say something about salvation here. So I will. [Note: this explanation is borrowed from Peter D. Williams from his debate against James White June 4, 2018] Christ is the sole meritorious cause of salvation. ONLY Christ merits something. You can’t earn grace but you must cooperate with it. Christ’s payment of the justice demanded by our sin is sufficient, but not efficient.  We make it efficient by our cooperation. There are instrumental causes, however, by which we access what Christ has done for us. This can be understood as Christ paying our water bill (meritorious cause), but we still need to turn the shower knob (instrumental cause). Eternal punishment for our sins was taken care of on the cross, but our temporal punishment remains to be cleansed through sanctification / purgation. You can be forgiven for committing adultery, but you still have an STD. (A note about physical healings: I believe in the miraculous healing power of God to heal STDs. However, if you die with an STD doesn’t mean you don’t go to heaven. But you can rightfully trust that God will restore your body from the STD – and any other physical ailments – before you enter the pearly gates. That’s part of why I jive with the idea of purgatory.)

I advise you to keep an open mind about purgatory. Purgatory, according to Peter D. Williams, is open to various understandings, as Scripture doesn’t spell it out. Perhaps it is a present reality that is a part of the process of sanctification during this life, though it is traditionally understood as an intermediate reality between death and heaven that some people endure if they haven’t been entirely sanctified yet. However, since God is outside of time, who’s to say that purgatory is not instantaneous or even that it is realized during this life? We know that only perfection can exist in the presence of God. In His great love and mercy, He allows those of us who love Him but are not in a perfect state of Grace on our death to still attain that state of perfection after our death.

Pope John Paul II spoke about purgatory in 1999 as a “condition of existence” for purification, rather than a place. The focus of purgatory is not about a location but rather a process.

It’s important to remember that God is the only one with ultimate authority. We can pray all we want to apply indulgences to those being purified so that they go to heaven, but God is the only one with that ultimate authority. So don’t get a God-complex over this.

To further understand purgatory, I like this quote from Jerry Walls: “[God] is good in the moral sense that he hates our evil, and demands our purity, but he is also good in the sense that he loves us and desires our happiness and true flourishing, which can only be complete when we are perfected in holiness. This reminds us one more time that purgatory, properly understood, is not an alternative to grace, but is itself an expression of grace” (Purgatory, 181).

Our sanctification often involves suffering. Our sufferings can be intentional (such as fasting, sacrificing of our resources, caring for others, teaching Truth to others, etc.) or unintentional (being mistreated by others, enduring physical pain or illness, etc.) but they can all be offered up to the Lord as prayer, bringing us further into His holy presence by His grace through our sanctification. Heb. 12:10-11 says, “God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening – it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” Indulgences are a piece of this sanctifying discipline by which God’s grace is available through the Church, should we choose to cooperate with His grace.

The authority to declare indulgences was given to the Church via the keys of the kingdom mentioned in Matthew 16:18, ensuring that what the Church “binds” and “looses” on earth is actually God’s will. (I wrote another paper about this if you’re interested, which goes into more of the inductive interpretation of Scripture.)

The Protestant Objections

Aren’t indulgences a commodification of grace? You can’t do things to earn grace.

-        I agree. You can’t do things to EARN grace. But we can do things to connect with God, thus accessing His grace by cooperating with it, which affects our lives in amazing ways. For instance, we can pray, be truly sorry for our sins, and we can get involved in His work in the world. And from Scripture as well as experience, we know that we encounter His grace this way and that it has profound impacts.

Jesus’ death on the cross is sufficient for all, and the Church is adding barriers from that freedom, undermining grace. Shouldn’t we just pray for forgiveness and let that be that?

-        Jesus’ sacrifice IS sufficient but it is NOT efficient. Otherwise, everyone would go to Heaven regardless of their choice to love or hate God. Because of His sacrifice, we are equipped by the Spirit to live ABUNDANT lives (John 10:10). That means, if we have committed sin – for example, punching someone in the face – Jesus not only forgives us but also empowers us to make things right, doing good works such as praying and seeking peace in how we live such that the temporal consequences can be absolved, and it is possible to no longer be tempted by our flesh to punch people in the face. Increased temptation that is a result of giving into temptation is a temporal consequence of sin. Prayer is an example of an indulgence which can help us combat temptation to sin, resulting over time in less and less temptation and potentially freedom from temptation.

Who gives the Church the authority to say what an indulgence is?

-        Jesus (see above)

How can our actions affect the spiritual state of others? Doesn’t that negate their own free will?

-        Our actions can positively or negatively affect the spiritual state of others. For example, words are incredibly powerful. You have certainly heard words that have brought you down spiritually and hopefully more that have encouraged you spiritually. Also, consider your life as a small child. Did you make your own meals? Probably not. Probably, your parents or someone else prepared food for you – or else you wouldn’t have eaten. Similarly, we can help others along on their spiritual paths (by God’s grace). This is done through discipleship / mentoring, participation in the Body of Christ so that it continues on for future generations, and prayer (including prayer for those who have passed away). It was the faith of the men who brought the paraplegic to Jesus that He credited with the reason for his healing (Jesus saw their faith. So he said to the man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” - Mark 2:5).

Why are the indulgences applied by the “authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints”? Isn’t Christ’s sacrifice on the cross enough?

-        The fact is, everything good we do is God’s grace flowing through us, so the actions of the saints (including their prayers) are actually belonging to Christ, and this line from the Catechism should be understood as such. All glory to God. All merit from Christ.

This is too legalistic.

-        I AGREE. It can very easily get swept up into a pit of rubbish rules and legalism – IF YOU LET IT (Ex. Feeling burdened by the need to pray for at least 30 minutes, go to confession within 2 days of my good work, etc.) You are in control here regarding your attitude. You can CHOOSE to see these things as opportunities (I “get” to talk to God vs. I “have” to talk to God). Let the Spirit lead you… you don’t HAVE to do any of this. But are you feeling led to pray? Are you feeling nudged to confess of your sin? And don’t you think that serving the poor and doing these other things will lead you closer to God and away from your sinful nature? Hmm… perhaps there is something to all this after all 😊

My main question in response to the Protestant objections is this: Aren’t you limiting God by saying that He is not capable of working through us in this way? Further questions flow from that main one… Isn’t God greater than sin? Isn’t God not bound by time? Isn’t God not bound by death? Doesn’t Jesus give authority to his disciples and say that they will do even greater things than he did?

Is your mind opened? Or are you just looking for ways to put a gold star on what you already believe?

Prayer as a Way of Life

If you haven’t noticed from this post so far, I am leaning more on the side of supporting indulgences. But it’s been a journey. To be honest, it wasn’t until a few months ago that I even knew that the Roman Catholic Church still spoke the language of indulgences. I thought all of that lingo had been eradicated thanks to Martin Luther. Turns out, I was wrong. Also, it turns out, Father Luther may have been mistaken in his understanding of indulgences as well.

The best way that I have found to synthesize all of this is in one word: prayer. I think that all of life can be summarized by prayer. I have come to understand that everything we do, think, and say have implications in our spiritual lives. We can worship ourselves or we can worship God. We can love our neighbor or we can separate ourselves from “them” – whoever “them” is. Everything flowing out from us is communicating a prayer. Some people’s prayers speak “leave me alone” or “gimme gimme gimme.” But I think our lives are meant to pray “I love you” and “Father, forgive them.” And that is how I have come to dip my toes in the water of indulgences, and more broadly the Roman Catholic Church.

Our acts of charity are actually more fully understood as acts of prayer, or acts of worship.

Salvation is not a momentary get-out-of-jail free card. Rather, when we humbly accept Christ’s forgiveness for our sins (justification), it is the beginning of a relationship fueled by prayer. Prayer is the connection of our minds and hearts to God as we listen and speak with him, soaking in his love and taking on his perspective. In the Christian life, in everything we do, we are meant to pray without ceasing. Our never-ending prayer is the fuel behind every action we do. Our actions can be prayers that we perform with our body, which help us to know God and worship him as we serve his creation.

And what we do consequently affects others… we need to get rid of our individualistic mentality and see others as part of the same connected humanity who are impacted by who we are and what we do. This passage from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount helped me conceptualize how we affect the spiritual state of other people, which can pertain to the idea of praying for those in purgatory:

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca’ [an Aramaic term of contempt] is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother: then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:21-24)

If your brother is mad at you, he is in danger of hell and judgment. In response, you are called to go and reconcile with him (as a higher priority than your church responsibilities). By doing the good work of pursuing reconciliation / peacemaking with others, we can help to free them from hell and judgment. (An aside to those questioning the goodness of the Judeo-Christian God: please notice that God’s desire, more than any penny in the Church offering plate, is that humanity be reconciled with one another and freed from the bondage of sin and its consequences.)

As we connect with God more, we detach from our sinful nature more. One of the temporal effects of our past sins is that we are tempted to sin in the same way in the future. However, the more we connect with God, we are tempted to sin less… thus, we see the temporal effects of our sins diminished by our works. This is how indulgences work. I have experienced this in my own life and have been freed from the enslavement of addiction – PRAISE GOD!

Anything good that we do or experience is an outflowing of God’s grace. It is not of ourselves – we cannot boast! It is actually only in humility that we can cooperate with these acts of God’s grace.

For the Sake of Unity

This issue of indulgences is currently something that is dividing the Body of Christ. ß Take this seriously. Is this worth the separation? Consider, would you divorce your spouse over this issue? Breaking up the Body of Christ is as grievous as divorce in my opinion. What are your thoughts?

For those exploring the Christian faith, how do you respond to these insights? Do you jive with the notion of life as a prayer?

Other verses and quotes to sit with and ponder…

Isaiah 22:22 “And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.”

Jn. 20:23 “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Prov. 17:3 “The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tries hearts.”

1 Cor. 3:10-15 “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”

~57 A.D. - St. Paul - “For such a one this punishment by the majority is enough...you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him...I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. … What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 2:5-10)

~197 A.D. - Tertullian - “Some, not able to find this peace in the Church, have been used to seek it from the imprisoned martyrs. And so you [imprisoned Christians] ought to have it dwelling with you, and to cherish it, and to guard it, that you may be able perhaps to bestow it upon others.” (Ad Martyras Chapter 1)

250 A.D. - St. Cyprian - “[A]ccording to your diligence...designate those by name to whom you desire that peace should be granted. For I hear that certificates [of indulgence] are [too freely] given.” (Letter 10 or 15 Paragraph 4)

314 A.D. - Council of Arles - “Concerning those who carry letters from the confessors, be it resolved that, when they have handed over those letters, they receive other letters of reference.” (Canon 10 or 9)

325 A.D. - The First Ecumenical Council - “[Some sinners], after they have passed the space of three years as hearers, [must] be for ten years prostrators. But in all these cases it is necessary to examine well into their purpose and what their repentance appears to be like. For as many as give evidence of their conversions by deeds...when they have fulfilled their appointed time as hearers, may properly communicate in prayers; and after that the bishop may determine yet more favourably concerning them.” (Canon 12)

379 A.D. - St. Basil - “We do not judge [a penance] altogether by the length of time, but by the circumstances of the penance.” (Canonical Epistle to Amphilochius Canon 84)

380 A.D. - St. Gregory of Nyssa - “[F]ornicators [should] be three years wholly ejected from prayer...and [after an additional six year period] admitted [back] to communion; but the [additional six years] may be lessened to them who of their own accord confess, and are earnest penitents.” (Canonical Epistle to Letojus Canon 4)

~650 A.D. - St. Cummian writes a book about penance in which he lists several ways a penance can be shortened. Among them, he notes that “twelve three-day periods” of penance can be “the equivalent of a year” of penance. He says that a penitent can shorten his penance if he spends “one hundred days with half a loaf and an allowance of dry bread and water and salt, [and] sing[s] fifty psalms during each night.” Or, the penitent can do “fifty special fasts, with one night intervening.” (Penitential Chapter VIII Canons 25-28)

~679 A.D. - St. Theodore of Tarsus - “Penitents according to the canons ought not to communicate before the conclusion of the penance; we, however, out of pity give permission after a year or six months.” (Penitential Chapter 12 Canon 4)

807 A.D. - According to the Catholic Encyclopedia article on indulgences, an Irish Synod of this year said that the fast of the second day of the week may be “redeemed” by singing one psalter or by giving one denarius to a poor person. (Canon 24)

References

•        Catechism of the Catholic Church: Revised in Accordance with the Official Latin Text Promulgated by Pope John Paul II. Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1994.

•        Horn, Trent. Case for Catholicism: Answers to Classic and Contemporary Protestant Objections. Ignatius Press, 2017.

•        Walls, Jerry L. Purgatory: the Logic of Total Transformation. Oxford University Press, 2012.

•        “History & Apologetics.” The Doctrine of Indulgences in the Early Church, www.historyandapologetics.com/2015/02/the-doctrine-of-indulgences-in-early.html.

•        Debate: “Do Indulgences Deny the Gospel?” James White vs. Peter D. Williams. June 4, 2018. All Saints Church, Belfast, Ireland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0f95nvmfVs&t=86s

A Reflection - Woodstock Fruit Festival 2018

My heart is so full, thinking back to the two weeks I spent this August at Camp Walden (Diamond Point, NY) for the 2018 Woodstock Fruit Festival!

The food was amazing and made me feel so energized and next-level healthy... so much so that I've committed to going fully raw vegan for the next year. I am in withdrawal of the mouthwatering durian, mamay sapote, papaya, and mango. But one thing I hope to make a part of my daily diet is Sriracha-smothered bananas - try it, I dare you! It's tastes exactly like scrambled eggs with hot sauce.

The various activities were so fun and enlivening that I want to do them with all of my friends here in Kentucky (bring on the ecstatic dance, acro-yoga, and connecting sessions)! I've been practicing my inversions too... I've got a ways to go before I stop looking like a buffoon, but I'm determined.

But what truly made it the most incredible experience, above everything else, was the people. I was blessed to be part of the volunteer squad, which allowed me to get to know the other volunteers on a more intimate level because we had more time together. God was surely on the move among us because the best word to describe the environment was LOVE, and God is Love (1 John 4:8).

I think I got more hugs those two weeks than my whole life combined... okay maybe that's an exaggeration, but still. Many hugs! Much love! :)

Being on the cleanup / dishes crew was such an uplifting environment. Everyone stepped up and worked great together as a team. And we had life-giving kitchen conversations, which made the hours fly by... the singing and dancing helped too.

My worldview was greatly expanded by all of the conversations... especially learning more about New Age beliefs. I still don't fully understand praying with crystals, significance of the year 2012, howling at the moon (or was that just a WFF thing?), or karma, but I feel 2000% more enlightened about it than I was before, and I definitely value the focus on Christ-consciousness and the concept of allowing God to manifest within us.

And people were generally great listeners and very open to hearing my perspective also, and I was blessed to connect with people about the Gospel, God's intentions for sexual expression, and stewarding the Earth and our bodies.

I hope to keep in touch with many people from the festival, and Lord-willing I will see many of them again next year.

One such special woman I hope to see again is Alyse from Raw Alignment. She is such a bright light and a powerful influencer in our world. God's hand is definitely upon her life, and it was an honor to get to know her better in person and pray a blessing over her after one of her presentations.

Another new friend I hope to stay in contact with is "Barefoot Josh," my new brotherly friend! He truly made the experience a joy for me. He is an authentic, truth-seeking, peace-flowing, love-abiding man of light. And now he's my mentor in this raw vegan lifestyle, and I'm living vicariously through his recent discovery of wild persimmon trees in Virginia.

There are many more beautiful souls I connected with at the WFF that made the experience one to cherish forever. Special shoutout to the Banana Bus crew that I carpooled with to and from NYC - and the beloved Kitchen Team! And huge thanks to Jaclyn for hosting me in the big apple.

I'm excited about what God will do with all of us as we continue to seek, listen, and love.

"Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." - Matthew 7:7

Seminary, Say What??

You guys!!! It’s been nearly 6 months since I moved out here to Kentucky for school, so it’s definitely time for an update. I hope this update finds you well and is an encouragement to you wherever you are on your journey! This is a lofty update, spanning the past 6 months, so bear with me, but I hope it leaves your heart warmed and your eyes opened wider to see God at work in your own lives – God is on the move! Though this is a longish update, I have left a LOT out. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you want to discuss more – and I would love to hear more about your life happenings as well!

Representing Asbury in the Grand Canyon

I began my seminary classes at Asbury Theological seminary in February, and words cannot describe how blessed I feel. It has been such an enriching experience, diving into Truth with amazingly gifted professors alongside other spiritually hungry students. Taking a class on Inductive Bible Study (the best kind of IBS) of the book of Matthew was life-changing and has opened my eyes to Scripture in a new way; plus, it has given me helpful background information for the Bible study group I’ve been leading this summer over the book of Matthew. Biblical Narrative was a great course as well – I learned a lot about how the whole Bible fits together, I got practice in articulating the whole Bible summarized as an 8-ish-minute story, and I discovered the gift of Lectio Divina for meditating on Scripture (highly recommend!!! Google it). I utilized Lectio Divina to lead Scripture meditation with the Loucon High School Leadership Camp in the mornings (my first time as a dean – more details to follow!), and it was so cool to see how God gave me that blessing this semester to bless the campers this summer. I also took a class about the theology of John Wesley, which was really enlightening to me. Even though I grew up in the United Methodist Church (Methodism originated from John Wesley), I surprisingly knew very little about the life and theology of John Welsey, so it was great to learn about it. Learning more about sanctification and how we can enter into entire sanctification during this life blew my mind and I was really encouraged by that concept. I also enjoyed learning about how John Wesley’s Methodists died in such a profoundly impactful manner, sometimes shouting for victory, often with people singing hymns by their bedside. Strangers would come to watch these Christians die, and many committed their lives to the Lord after encountering the reality that we don’t need to fear death. I think death is often not talked about in our culture. Though death is an ugly result of the Fall, God can use it for good if we cooperate with His grace and allowed His beautiful reality to shine through our suffering. I also took Missional Formation this semester, which was indeed formational. It was valuable to gain more insights about the World Christian Movement and how we can enter into God’s work. Our role as believers is to be part of God’s restorative work in the world to bring victory over death in all its forms, which brings purpose and meaning to every aspect of our lives and relationships, including our relationship with the Earth that we are entrusted to steward. I also made a great friend in that class named Laurel, who continues to be an incredible blessing to me. She’s a counseling student with listening ears, a discerning Spirit, and a huge heart.

Missional Formation celebration at Dr.Okesson's house

I feel God definitely at work in my life, calling me to use this as a period of intense preparation. This preparation includes (amazing) academics but also includes profound spiritual cultivation and discernment for the road ahead. And Asbury Seminary is fertile soil for this journey! I am so grateful for the Eucharist services, prayer groups, chapel, and mentorship. I got to connect with one of our chapel speakers this semester, Keith Wasserman (founder of Good Works in Athens, OH), who is a prophetic, faithful follower of God. One thing that really stood out to me from my interactions with him and learning about Good Works is their ethic of inefficiency. It struck me as odd and countercultural, but the more I think about it, the more I’m drawn to the concept. We often focus more on productivity than persons, on finances than on faith, on schedules than on the Spirit. If we do EVERYTHING with God’s love flowing through us, it might seem to take longer and not make sense in our world, but it will be in God’s perfect timing and all the more meaningful. Another person who has greatly impacted me here is Peg Hutchins, who is one of my main human sources of spiritual direction. I am one of the reasons she needs tissues in her office, because she has a way of drawing out the depths of my heart in the form of tears. She has challenged me to listen more to the Spirit as I pray, and I’ve been becoming a real-deal prayer warrior. (Please hit me up with your prayer requests – I would LOVE to have the honor to pray for you!) My new friend / prayer partner / mentor Robin Ferraro has been amazing too. I’m learning a lot about vulnerability from her and what it means to be a committed wife and mother while 100% on fire for the Lord. She takes great care of her body too, so we often work out together then pray and chat afterwards.

My time in Wilmore hasn’t all been roses… there have been some thorns also. The main thorns have been loneliness and anxiety. After living alone for my last few months in Indiana, I was hoping to come to seminary and have a roommate. However, I was unable to get a roommate until May, so I had four months of just me and my Pomeranian, Rocko. With the transition here, not knowing people, living alone, being very busy with classes, and not yet feeling part of a church community, my loneliness and anxiety levels were quite high my first couple months. However, God has been my sustainer through it all. And I now have a roommate (well two, but one is moving out because I was unaware of a seminary policy about pet housing…long messy story). So praise God for that roommate provision, which is a help financially and emotionally. 

This depiction of Jesus was on the wall all semester in Inductive Bible Study, 

encouraging me and pacifying my anxious heart.

God communicates and provides in unexpected ways. One of the blessings God has used in my life here is soccer. I’m definitely not a World Cup athlete, but I have loved soccer most of my life. Playing intramural soccer this semester was such a God thing. Not only did it allow me to develop more of a community here on campus, but it also taught me some great life lessons that I’m still unpacking. For instance, how you do anything is how you do everything. I was confronted with pieces of my heart that needed mending, fears that needed to be demolished by love, and an opportunity to dive into my identity. Yes, all of that can happen when you approach a soccer game with open eyes, realizing that you are often afraid of the ball, don’t put forth your best effort, and are overly concerned with what others think of you. So, thank you, Team Sharks (and God), for that learning opportunity. I look forward to getting back in the game soon, practicing life on the field. In the meantime, I’m still learning about life in many other arenas.

I have felt called to missions for the past 6 years, ever since my first international mission trip to the Dominican Republic, looking out over the mission house balcony and feeling the Lord churning my heart for the impoverished people who haven’t heard his name. In the past few months, that calling has not only grown stronger but has also become morphed alongside another new calling: a call to Christian unity.

I started exploring Catholicism at the tail end of 2017, after briefly dating an incredibly devout Catholic man, a man much like how I imagine Jesus to have been like. He had eyes of immense compassion towards everyone he encountered, and his reverence for the Lord literally brought me to tears. That said, my prideful walls that I had built up since my days at an all-girl Catholic high school began to crumble. I found myself researching the Roman Catholic faith and concluding that “maybe they aren’t crazy after all.” Though we decided to just be friends for various reasons, I was profoundly impacted by this man, and by this new way of experiencing Jesus – the way of the Catholic faith. Since moving to Kentucky, I have been attending Catholic mass as well as an inquiry group to learn more and ask my questions as I prayerfully discern if God is calling me to join the Catholic Church. One thing is for certain: God wants me to be an instrument of peace and unification – bringing the world to Him, and particularly focusing on unifying his Body. Jesus prayed that we may be perfectly one, as He is One with the Father. So, I figure, anything I do towards that end will be in accord with God’s will. During this journey with Catholicism, the divisions in the Body of Christ – particularly between Catholics and Protestants, has deeply grieved me… and I think it grieves God too. Regardless of what camp I end up resting in, I definitely feel called to bring about unity across the dividing lines. I’m excited to see what God does with my willing heart in this area, and I sometimes get glimpses of how these callings can work together – that of missions and church unification – as we can unite on bringing hope to the world as Jesus commanded in the Great Commission:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18-20)

This summer, I have been given several opportunities to minister in unexpected ways, and I’m embracing it all.

I got to lead a discussion group at a TND retreat in May. TND = Thursday Night Dinner à it’s a group for post-college-age, non-married Christians in the Lexington area. The retreat was right after finals week, and it was a great way to decompress from the semester.

I’ve also been leading a Tuesday night Bible study out of my apartment, going through the book of Matthew (previously alluded to). There are about six of us women who have been coming, a good mix of Protestants and Catholics. Words cannot express my gratitude for these ladies – they always leave me feeling so encouraged after our insightful, honest, tea-laden discussions.

Camp Loucon has also resurfaced in my life this summer – thanks be to God!! I used to go to their junior high soccer camp back in the day, then I was on staff a couple summers in college, but I hadn’t been back in a few years. I was able to counsel the 5^th-6^th Grade Adventure Camp as well as dean the High School Leadership Camp in June. I have been so blessed and stretched by Loucon over the years, and this summer has been no exception. PRAISE GOD I was blessed to pray with a high school camper to accept God’s love and surrender her life to Him for the first time (hopefully she continues to do so every day, which is my prayer for all of us as well). And I was encouraged to reconnect with a few of the girls I counseled as junior highers and high schoolers who are now flourishing on staff (shoutout to Sophia, Sylvia, and Caroline)! Sylvia is an Asbury University student, so we plan to get together in Wilmore when she returns for fall classes – God is so cool! 

Jr. High Soccer Camp (2004?)

These 3 men committed their lives to Christ @ Leadership Camp!

I’ve picked up a waitress job at Los Dos Amigos in Nicholasville this summer. It’s the best Mexican restaurant of my life, and I tend to rate Mexican restaurants based on their chips and salsa, but there are many reasons I have come to love Los Dos Amigos. These reasons have names. Rosa has taught me about having peace and patience when multitasking under pressure. Yilda has taught me about enduring hardship and having a humble attitude of a learner. Lorenzo has taught me about joy and connection. Salvador has taught me about friendship and putting love in action. Melvin has taught me to have the attitude of a helper. Javier has taught me the artfulness of excellence. Rafael has taught me about accountability and leadership. Jessica has taught me about authenticity and openness. Carlos has taught me about the value of work. Anna has taught me the importance of seeing and being seen, knowing and being known. Daniel has taught me about teamwork. They’ve all taught me more Spanish too, and I love them all.

My mom also blessed me with the opportunity to go out west with her and Mike earlier this summer. That trip was so beautiful and continues to be etched into my brain…the vastness and splendor of the Grand Canyon, the giant crucifix overlooking the red earth formations of Sedona, discussing God’s love on a mountain in Zion National Park, contemplating art in Phoenix, and learning about life from my grandparents. I’m so grateful to add that sliver of life to my repertoire thanks to God’s provision through generosity of my mom and Mike.

I’ve also been blessed to do a bit of gardening this summer. The seminary has a community garden, which has become a sanctuary for me. I thought I loved plants before. But when you have your own 3’x10’ plot springing up sunflowers and corn and zucchini and peas and kale… I LOVE PLANTS, YALL. It has been good bonding for my neighbor Rachel and I too, since we share the plot and celebrate the sprouts and harvests together. But a lot of days, after tending to the garden, I stay up there and chill, just me and God and the plants. God always reveals new things to me there. It’s a beautiful place to listen – I recommend it. And sometimes other people are there. One time I met a beautiful African woman there, walking between the plots with a baby tied to her back, singing “thank you God” and I felt like we were Spirit sisters immediately because that’s what my heart often sings up there too.

I was also blessed to be able to go to North Carolina for a weekend to celebrate my sweet niece Chloe turning the big ONE YEAR OLD. I love her so much and my heart is so full, so here's this:

It's a beautiful thing, how babies can bring people together. I feel closer as a family because of our little sprout Chloe!

I have a few upcoming events and prayer requests to share too:

The last weekend of July, I will be attending the Defending the Faith conference in Steubenville, OH. It is a Catholic apologetics conference, and I’m hoping it provides more fuel for my discernment journey with Catholicism. I will be attending with a friend who recently converted to Catholicism from being atheist. Please pray for God to clarify Truth to me and that my friend LeeAnn and I will be encouragements to each other.

For a couple weeks in August, I will be going to New York, volunteering at the Woodstock Fruit Festival (vegan mecca) and visiting a missionary friend in NYC. As a vegan, I feel like I have a unique opportunity to connect to people at the fruit festival. The vegan culture has a lot of people who are intentionally seeking spiritual depth, and I know that God wants to use me there to reveal his love to them. Please be in prayer for me that God will flow through me as I serve in the kitchen, attend sessions, and interact with people.

Be on the lookout for me in your area! Lord willing, I will to be in Columbus, IN to run the half marathon in September. And I plan to be in Cedarville, OH for homecoming in October.

Thank you for your support on this journey with me – in prayers, finances, and just sharing life together. It’s a beautiful thing. If you would like to make a donation towards my seminary fund, you can use my link: https://www.givesendgo.com/JonnahOnAMission

OTHER PRAYER REQUESTS:

-        My mentoring relationship with Sylvia this fall

-        I’m trying to start a Students for Life group at Asbury, but don’t have momentum yet

-        That my fall classes bring additional discernment (especially since I will be taking Church History from an ex-Catholic, which is an interesting perspective) 

-        Being the hands and feed of Jesus @ Los Dos Amigos

-        Figuring out short-term trip details to serve overseas – potentially this coming winter in India (if you know of any opportunities, let me know – I’m hoping to do a trip focused on clean water)

-        My friend Salem (amazingly spiritually gifted man who is doing great things for the Lord… he prayed over a man and healed his stab wound the other day) needs $3000 for a car for his upcoming ministry in Florida -- https://www.gofundme.com/bssm3rdyeard

This is my friend Salem - he loves America.

Si Dios Quiere

Well I’m home now. It’s been a crazy whirlwind. I didn’t have much time to blog those last few weeks in the DR. We had back to back groups and then it was time to travel back to the land of ‘Merica, find a place to live, and move there. So here’s what you missed…..

I milked a cow. It was pretty epic. It had been on my bucket-list for a while, so I was glad to actually do it. What I didn’t realize, however, was that it was cause me to have extra anxiety when trying to re-enter the USA when my form got denied due to “being in close proximity with livestock.” Thanks be to God, I made it home anyway (after talking with an officer) and have a great milking memory to look back on!

I also had some time after church one day to go to the beach with a group. Silvia (my 12 yr old manita who is like a little sister to me) came along too and seemed to have the best day of her life. We built cheerleader pyramids in the ocean, I took her out on a sailboat, played a racing game on the beach, and I gave her a swimming lesson after realizing she didn’t know how to swim. It was great….which explains my confusion when I found out that night that she attempted to end her life by jumping off a three story building. Thanks be to God, she didn’t actually jump, but she definitely needs a lot of prayer. My heart has been all over the place because of that girl. I bonded with her so well and truly care for her as a little sister. She has a hard life for sure….HIV, an older sister who verbally abuses her, and her parents both died before she was a day old. I’m so glad she has Makarios and the church to care for her and make sure her needs get met. Please pray that she learns the true love of God and is able to be connected with a good counselor.

Silvia :)

                Kelly and I had the unique and special opportunity of cooking dinner for Lucia (our housekeeper) and her family of six. We made fish (her favorite) with rice, zucchini, and pineapple/mango smoothies. It was a memory I will cherish dearly. Even with the communication barrier, we had great and hilarious dinner conversation in Spanish. And when Lucia’s husband prays (who is a pastor in the neighboring community of Los Algodones), I feel revived. I’m also really interested by family dynamics, and being in the DR I am even more so because of the compounded cultural differences. Lucia’s family is one of my favorites I have ever encountered. They are a beautiful, hilarious, God-seeking unit – all unique yet complimenting each other in a way that can only be explained by divine intervention. We ate the meal on the roof to get the sunset view, and by the time we were done eating, the sky was lit by the stars.

Lucia :)

                Speaking of stars, I finally got a chance to work on my solar power investigation for Makarios. I collected information and devised plans for solar power at the Mak house as well as the school. Based on solar data of the region, projected project costs, and energy usage by Makarios, I found that using solar panels should be very beneficial long term, especially if the panels could be donated or provided by a grant. I collected contact information of local suppliers that sell and install solar systems. And I took a look at the school and talked with Benjamin about what plans should work. For the school, it would be wise to wait a couple more years until the new addition is built on to include the solar panels. The new part of the building will be an extra story high, which will make the shade of the trees not an issue. Hopefully the Makarios staff follow up about this and use the information I compiled for them because it could be very helpful in the future to not only offset electrical cost but also to help keep the batteries charged so there is less time without power.

A couple times during the summer, Doug and Margaret usually get away for a few days to have time alone and recharge. The first time they went away, they missed us interns the whole time. So, on their second get-away, they invited us to join them in Cabarete for a couple days! We got to go to the beach and stay in air conditioning (I had forgotten what that was like). It was a great time of fellowship and rejuvenation before the final two weeks of the summer – which really flew by with record-sized groups back to back then we flew home. During the trip, we got to go snorkeling with Benjamin and Vierka (his wife), which was such a special treat. We got on a boat far from civilization. The nearest restroom in ten miles was a local woman’s outhouse...or the ocean. It was beautiful. And we got to eat fresh coconut. Be jealous. Also, it was great quality time with Benjamin and Vierka, who are dear friends of mine now. They just got married a year ago and are a great example of a godly marriage.

Snorkeling crew

Ladies out breakfast with Margaret and Kelly before chaos ensued.

That same day, three of my friends had babies. Weird, right? It seems I’m at that stage in life where my friends are having babies and getting married and such. I’m traveling the world. Well, now I’m back, but my adventure never ends. I just got a dog. He’s the sweetest, constantly stealing my heart. His name is Rocko. You should come visit me and meet him.

Benjamin and Vierka and I got to go on another adventure the next day: a four hour trip down to the Dominican capitol city: Santo Domingo. But it wasn’t just a for-fun trip (though it was definitely fun). I’d been looking forward to that day for several months. It was the day I got to meet my Compassion child Angelica. I could write an entire blog about that one day. It was full of anticipation, emotion, fear, laughter, chicken, and love. Angelica is five years old. She just started school. She lives with her parents and little brother. She is super shy when you first meet her – to the point that I wasn’t sure she had the ability to speak. But she is so much fun when she opens up. And she’s adorable too. I’m so glad I got to meet her and that I have the privilege of partnering with Compassion to make her life better and provide godly influences in her life. I look forward to seeing what God does in her life over the years, as she will be in the program until she’s 19. It was super encouraging to meet her Compassion supervisor too, who was also a Compassion child when she was younger. And so was Benjamin, which made the trip extra special. It was sad to leave. Angelica ran inside without hugging me and wouldn’t say a word because she was so upset that we were leaving. Her mom brought her back out and I got a hug before we left. Bittersweet. But definitely sweet to look back on. Priceless.

With Angelica and her family in their house in Santo Domingo

            The next week, Kelly kept me sane as we shared our room with three other women and shared our bathroom with 12 people total. Thanks to the Lord, it went as smoothly as it could have possibly gone, with a sick child and all. And Kelly brilliantly put a homemade poster on the bathroom wall that said, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself.” Whenever I would see that, I would check myself. There is definitely power in Scripture, and that verse helped me a lot that week to maintain a servant focus.

                I also got to drive Margaret’s car briefly! AKA I drove a car on the crazy streets of the DR! CHECK ME OUT, YO!!! Margaret had to walk to the store from a restaurant because we were in a hurry to get Kelly home because she was feeling horribly. So Margaret left, and I stayed to pay the tab then drove to pick Margaret up after she checked out. I felt accomplished, so I wanted to let you know hehe.

                The final week of my time in the DR was definitely my favorite. I saw God at work the most. It was also the craziest, busiest, and most stressful week of all. But it was full of love. On the first night, the team got several hours late (around 3AM) due to flight delays. The second night, Nicole, a 16yr old girl on one of the teams got her appendix out (nbd) and was in the hospital for four days, which means that Margaret was also MIA for four days, which means that the rest of us were scrambling to fill her shoes (not to mention Jacob’s shoes too because he went back to Texas early for a wedding). Did I mention it was one of the biggest groups of the summer? Then Nelda and Mike, a sweet older couple, found out midweek that their son back in the states was having liver issues. He had had a stroke at the beginning of the trip. The liver issues ended up being severe, so they flew home a day early. But guess what also happened in the midst of the chaos?? LOVE. Miguel (one of our watchees) accepted Christ!!!!!!!!! Women who didn’t even know Nicole gave up their time and sleep to care for her in the hospital. There was LOTS of praying going on. And all of us interns were working like crazy – yet enjoying it abundantly….practicing the presence of God. Even just remembering that week as I type makes me feel such purpose and peace and love. MMMMMMM yes good stuff. One thing that Margaret said that week that really stuck with me is “people over project.” As in, we need to prioritize people over our tasks. As an instinctual Martha (vs. Mary), that really hit home with me. I want to make my life more that way, focusing on relationships and encouraging others rather than simply getting my to-do list met. To-do lists are great, and getting stuff done is great, but I need to remember to prioritize the eternal beings around me. People over project.

Final community visit of the summer. I miss holding those sweet hands.

                Leaving was great but awful. It hurts me to write about it. There were so many tears. We caused a scene at the airport with several people crying, praying, waving, hugging, taking pictures, and saying final goodbyes. The morning before we left, Lucia and Abram and Belizeur (her sons) came over for breakfast and gave us parting gifts. Lucia made homemade purses for Kelly and me. Mine is purple because she knew that is my favorite color. She is a busy woman with four kids and works full time cooking and cleaning at the Mak house. I don’t know how she had time to make those. But that made it even more special. Hugging Silvia and praying over her with the other interns was super special as well. Though I wanted to take her with me in my luggage, it wasn’t possible. So I just have to trust that God will take care of her.

The airport goodbye crowd

Being back and processing has been great. It wasn’t as hard of a transition back as I thought it might be. But I’m definitely forever changed. I’m determined to become fluent in Spanish. I hope to reenter the international mission field (si Dios quiere – if God desires) in the future. I am grateful for AC but still feel at peace sweating in 100 degrees. I was also blessed to process a lot of the trip with my friend Callie from Cedarville. She had spent fall semester in the DR so we could relate to each other a lot, even though she had stayed in a different part of the country. From processing with her about the cultural differences, trying to take the good from the Dominican and American cultures and apply them to our lives, we realize we need to have a balance. We need to be relational and hospitable, focusing on others; but we also need to get stuff done to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives. Ultimately, in the day-by-day, we need to look to the Lord for guidance in decisions and interactions with others and remember to be fueled by His love in everything.

Now for my next adventure: life in Columbus, IN. That's me in the driver seat of a moving truck, next to dad.

                Since I’ve been back, I have been blessed by my support here. Coming back and staying with my Dad and Rhonda for a week was such shalom. I also purged my belongings in a yard sale to support my sister Laurel’s trip to Belgium! (She’s studying abroad there right now.) I also found an apartment here in Columbus, IN and moved in. It was a blessing that really just fell into my lap. Long story, but it’s a brand new and affordable apartment with great neighbors and a great landlord, and it wasn’t ever posted online. I also went to my friend Sarah’s wedding. And I found a church here that I think I want to stick with and help with the youth. And I’m scheduled for four Zumba classes per week already. And I still have a week off of work to get organized! P.S. I have a guest room – come visit me! Oh and I have a cutie pie I’m taking care of now…….not the roommate I was expecting, but he’s a treasure for sure.

Mommy and me after loading the moving truck

Taking home my buddy Rocko!

                I know I’m forgetting a lot. But I think we both can agree that this blog post is long enough haha. Peace and blessings. Paz y bendiciones. Siglos y siglos. Amen.

Oh and I visited MK in Wildcat Country!

And I visited Tori at Thomas More!