Out With The Old...

Hello All,

This is a bittersweet moment for me--I'm typing on the floor in my nearly-empty apartment eating off a paper plate as I prepare to load my last carload of stuff and clean the floors and microwave.

I've loved this place--every bit of it. I love the light that dances off my vaulted ceiling, I love the red dining nook, I love my tangerine tree and my al fresco washer and dryer, and I love well...everything about it, even with its quirks. It's been a beautiful, blessed home to me and I'm so thankful for it.

Here's the rundown for the next month:

Tomorrow I attend a 4-day Emergence conference that is like emotional and relational boot camp for your soul. The days run from 10am-11pm Thurs-Sunday, except that Sunday at 9pm we have a "graduation", of a kind. I really need your prayers for these next four days, friends, as I will be undergoing some kind of heart and soul transformation. If you want more info about Emergence, go to www.generativesolutions.com, I believe.

Following that, as I'm staying with my friends the Lehrs, I will continue my part-time temp job and record a cd with them every day after work, as we've all been working on original music.

Following that, I go live with my parents in Harker Heights for the last few weeks before I go. My prayer send-off at my church here is on the 18th, which I'll drive back into Austin for. If all goes well, I'll leave country January 1st!

I could really use prayer for a couple things to happen: Namely, that my apartment would rent PRONTO as I'm paying on it for the next two months until it does. Secondly, that my visa would process and arrive PRONTO as it's two weeks overdue and my school will not book my airline tickets until they have a copy of it faxed to their hot little hands.

That's all for now. I'm sure I'll have much to tell in the next few weeks ahead.

Love you all.

"On the Road to Beautiful"

Oh my gosh,

It's been too long since I wrote.

I've been pondering so much in my preparations for India that it's hard this time to settle on any one thing to write--

I've just heard a jet plane go by overhead and that sound always gives me a little thrill of adventure and I immediately hear the song "I'm Leavin' on a Jet Plane" in my head. The last time I truly got to sing that song about a new adventure was when I was leaving for Italy in 2005. It's been that long.

I am excited about India and yet the truth that I am leaving is still sinking in by degrees. It's like getting into a very hot bath--first you dip your toe in, jerk it out, then step in to your ankles, then slowly lower your way into the water, part by part finally feeling the bliss of the heat. I'm doing all this preparatory work and still have such an active life going on here that it may not be till I get on the jet plane that I really feel I'm in it ankle-deep and maybe not till I'm in-country that I'll feel I've settled into the bath, so to speak. One thing is for certain--a bath is better enjoyed when you're in it than when you're only dipping in a toe and contemplating. I will make every effort to embrace the new culture and settle into it even if it's a little shocking to the senses at first. Soon I think it will feel wonderful.

I've been getting close again to the Father this week reading "The Shack" which is such an invitation for personal relationship with the persons of the Trinity--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Coupled with my preparations for India it's reminded me of a favorite Charlie Hall song, "On the Road to Beautiful". I'd like to give you the lyrics so that you can get a sense of where I've been and where I'm at. Although I'm not in the place of desperation right now that the song speaks of, I have been and am now coming through to this new and beautiful place.

On the Road to Beautiful

I crumble at Your kiss and grace
I'm a weakling in the dust
Teach me how to cling to You
With all my life and all my love

Father come to me, hold me up 'cause I can barely stand
My strength is gone and my breath is short, I can't reach out my hands
But my heart is set on a pilgrimage to heaven's own bright King
So in faltering or victory I will always sing

And on the road to beautiful
My seasons always change
But my life is spent on loving You
To know You in Your power and pain

Father come to me, hold me up 'cause I can barely stand
My strength is gone and my breath is short, I can't reach out my hands
But my heart is set on a pilgrimage to heaven's own bright King
So in faltering or victory I will always sing

You're my portion in this life
You're my strength now in my fight
And to You I pledge my heart
In the pain and in the dark I'll love You
I'll love You, I'll love You

I'll love You...

Father come to me, hold me up 'cause I can barely stand
My strength is gone and my breath is short, I can't reach out my hands
But my heart is set on a pilgrimage to heaven's own bright King
So in faltering or victory I will always sing

And my heart is set on a pilgrimage to heaven's own bright King
So in faltering or victory I will always sing

I love You
I love You
I love You