Oh Glorious Day

So today was Easter. It was weird being in a different country, with no family and just students from my school. But to be honest, I hadn't put a ton of thought into my potential emotions or anything up until Good Friday.

When I woke up that morning, it was weird because it was as if this whole Holy week (Semana Santa) was different, more meaningful than it ever had been. On Good Friday I was more aware and shaken by the sacrifice Christ had made for me than I have ever been. I went on a walk that morning trying to just wrap my head around that incredibly selfless sacrifice. I kept thinking about so many things I have done since being a Christian, since knowing this love, that have been a deliberate disobedience to Christ and his call in my life. But it made me incredibly grateful. And I think in some very miniscule small way I could finally identify with sacrifice on Good Friday. Being away from home for so long has been hard. And when I'm honest with myself, I see that it's been a tough experience. And sacrificing not being at home for this time is NOTHING in comparison to what Christ had done. I was just really incredibly overwhelming grateful.

One really great experience that tops many from this trip was doing communion with JJ, Caitlin & Joe via Skype on Good Friday. It was awesome to be able to observe such an important element of my faith with a believer here in this experience with me and of course the best of the best at home. I was extremely blessed to have gotten to do that, and can't imagine ever forgetting it. It was incredibly special, even if it was grape Gatorade.

But lucky for all of us, Good Friday isn't the end of the story, so it's neither the end of my blog. It just wouldn't be right.

So this morning, we went to church at International Baptist Church. It was exactly what I needed. The Lord had prepared that time for my heart. That church came ready to celebrate the resurrection with complete joy and surrender to Christ. It was amazing to join in with them. Even though I've been there few times and will probably never be there again, I was with my family of believers, rejoicing in the victory over death Christ has for us. It was really amazing.

All of us students got together to do lunch afterwards. We made great American food, enjoyed each other's company, and it was a good way to end the first Easter away from home. Now, 27 days from the U.S.A.


'Till He returns, or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I stand.