I'm here, and I know it's only by the Lord.

After three days in LA,  24 hours of traveling and 10 hours of time change, we made it to our destination.  We're staying in a flat on the 7th floor of an apartment building in the middle of a city comparable to the Bronx or Queens, New York.  We totally lucked out and we (the ladies and our team leaders) are actually staying in the landlord's personal flat.  He rented his personal space to us and packed up the majority of his stuff and went to another apartment.  This means that our apartment is fully furnished and that it has a lot of charm.  Picture soon (hopefully). 

We took a ferry ride yesterday to another part of the city for more briefing.  As I sat on the ferry and watched the city roll by, I was struck with the realization that I really, really, really, don't belong here logically.  The Lord protected me from the knowledge that I would go through culture shock, that I would miss America and 2% milk, that I would feel like I couldn't do the work set out for us--(had I thought of these things seriously, I probably would have refused the trip). But the Lord truly called me here and made it clear that He wanted me here to do His work and, I think even more importantly, to grow me. 

I think the latter part of that statement is really why I'm here.  I honestly believe that He could use anyone in the kingdom for His work over here, it doesn't matter if it's me or any person of our 14 person team, He doesn't specifically need any one of us.  I have a deep sense that this trip really is more about my growth as a person of faith and as a daughter of God.  Sharing the Good News is icing on the cake. 

With that said, I'm expecting growing pains. Today we go out to do what we said we would do here: step onto college campuses and talk about Jesus.  More to come.

Grace and peace,
Shayla M.