Four Weeks and Counting

Copenhagen. Just four more weeks now. This will probably be the longest four weeks of my life...maybe. I might be exaggerating. And I do not want the next four months to go by quickly! But I know they will. That is how life works. You wait for something for the longest time, then once it arrives, it is gone before you fully realize it arrives. But I am so excited for this adventure, no matter how quickly it passes before my eyes. I plan to enjoy every moment. Take in every scent, every scene, every passing lover and friend. I plan to wonder and amaze and store such memories for a gloomy day. I plan on passing my time with laughter and joy, not wasting a moment. I pray that I will make dear friends and will shine my Lord's light wherever my feet wander.

I will use this blog to inform those who care of my whereabouts. I will probably post ridiculous things. My emotions can be fickle, you can ignore those ones. Pray that I press in to God and his grace more and more while I am away. I do not want to come back the same person. Don't let me do such a thing! Why have such an adventure and not learn and grow from it? Don't be afraid of changes. (I post this sentence mostly for myself, no worries). The Rachel leaving for Copenhagen in four weeks from now will not be the same Rachel who return to the US in five months. It will be a grand adventure to be sure.

Thoughts, in no particular order

I haven't posted in awhile. I was looking at one of my friends blogs and I was amazed at how short and to the point her posts were, then I realized that was because she updated it recently, not once every few months. Alas, I have not done that though, so I might ramble a bit to fill in what I have been thinking on lately.

Music. It has more power than one might think. I have found lately that if I listen to a certain genre it will affect my mood and how I think. If I listen to depressing music, I start feeling depressed. If I listen to music that is highly sexual, my mind tends to wander that direction. If I listen to angry and bitter music, my heart grows heavy and starts dwelling on things that upset me. If I listen to happy music, I feel happier. Really this is all subconscious though, I never realize it when it is happening. It makes me want to pay attention to what I listen to though, if it has such an impact, what do I really want to be feeding my thoughts?

Facebook. A few months ago I decided to deactivate my account for awhile. It was the best decision I ever made. Before, I just spent so much time on it. It amazes me how much time can be wasted on it. So during Christmas break I reactivated it, but I am seriously considering deactivating it again. I really don't need that kind of distraction in my life. It is such a time waster. Also Facebook is kind of creepy, and it encourages creepiness. It is making it acceptable to creep on others and know way too much about people that you don't need to know. It frustrates me.

Russia. Recently I have been thinking about Russia so much, even having dreams about it. I want to go back. I want to know how those dear children that I had the privilege of ministering to two summers ago are doing. I long to hug them and listen to them talk in their beautiful language. I know that the Lord will lead me back at one point, but I have been praying for them so much, for I don't know what else to do.

Mormons. I have so many Mormon friends, and I love them so much. It breaks my heart every time I think about it. I don't know who might read this blog, but I just want to be honest here. It frustrates me how blind they seem. They don't know how to question their faith. The Book of Mormon directly contradicts with the Bible, but they believe it and think it is the Word of God and should be believed. It pains me to know that my friends, who are so good, might not go to heaven because they have not accepted God's grace and gift of free salvation, but think that they have to do works to go to heaven. That is not the message that Jesus taught. Look anywhere in the Bible, especially the New Testament, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 14:6, John 17:3, Titus 3:4-7, and so many other places! But that doesn't mean that as a result of salvation you shouldn't do good things, for works are a result of faith (James 2:14, Galatians 5:22), not necessary for salvation as many Mormons have tried to tell me! Ah, I love my dear Mormon friends so much! God loves them even more, and I just long to reach a place of understanding with them. I pray for their salvation as often as I think to, it is that important to me, and God!

Boys. God has given me so much peace as far as boys are concerned. There was a point just a few months ago that I wanted a boyfriend so badly, and felt that I needed one. But God has assured me that in his perfect timing he will provide, I have no reason to fret or be anxious about this. I love being in this place of peace. It makes life so much less stressful! I love having guy friends that I won't have to worry about if they like me or if I like them, because I know that when the right guy comes around, God will let both of us know and it will work out just as God has planned, and I have no need to worry at all!

Life. I love life right now. I am so busy, which isn't always fun, but I am so content right now. I am so blessed with good friends, a good school, and so many wonderful things. I am blessed and cannot wait to see where God will continue to lead me in the days to come!