This semester has been one of the best experiences of my life and I have been so blessed to have been able to spend the past 3 months here in the wonderful place. The relationships I have formed and the things that I have seen and learned will be with me for the rest of my life. It feels like just yesterday that was sitting in the Amsterdam airport (all by myself) and I saw all of these people and was absolutely petrified. I didn't really know anyone and was terrified when I saw all of these little groups of friends. Oh, how things change! These people that I was once afraid to speak to have become my closest friends and I am so grateful for everything that they have done for me!
As much as Harding frustrates me sometimes, Ashton nailed it right on the head when she said, "This semester has opened my eyes to the blessings it (Harding) gives. I have friends from all over the U.S. I know that, years from now, if I need a house to stay in for the night or a lunch date in a random state, I have several people that I will be able to call on. It has provided me with other college students who share a love for God and know how to have a blast without throwing their morality out the window. I see some of my public university friends who have changed completely and it makes me thank God for girls who want to make stupid videos at 2 a.m. instead of get drunk, for guys that hold each other accountable instead of partying it up every weekend, and for teachers who genuinely care about your soul and well-being." Well said, Ash. Harding has blessed me with the best friends I could have ever asked for. It has also opened my eyes to a world that I have only ever read about before. I will miss our girls tea-time every Wednesday night. That time became a safe haven for me. It was a place where we could go and just have girl time. We would talk about anything and everything whether happy or sad. DiMy has become like a mom away from mom for all of us girls here and it will be tough to say good-bye to her as well.
I am going to miss the Artemis, Porto Rafti, and Athens but most of all I will miss these 42 other people who have been my world for the past 3 months. Thinking back on my semester it seems almost too good to be true. Its like the past 3 months have been a dream. Please pray for all of us as we make this transition back into the "real world." We send off our first group of free travelers this afternoon and I'm sure it will be a very tearful good-bye. Please pray for all of us as we travel around Europe! I love you!
***I'll post again before we leave on Friday!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I definitely don't want to leave this place, these people, this whole experience either, and that's becoming more real to me every hour that goes by. BUT I do know that if it's God's will we'll keep in touch with the people we're meant too. AKA ME AND YOU!! I'm so unbelievably thankful for you and everything you've done for me and said to me, every hug and every backscratch. You're an absolutely amazing friend, with a beautiful heart for God. I love your compassion for people and your faith. Even though I didn't really know you before this semester, I've seen you grow a lot and it's been really encouraging. Basically, I love you so much AJ, and I can't wait to be friends with you forever. I mean we're pretty much sisters for life at this point! LOVE YOU! LJ
Post a Comment