Heartboken and Humbled

I heard this story this morning on the news as I was headed out the door to class. A 14 (and no that is not a typo) a 14 year old Pakastani girl was shot by the Taliban today because she is a women's education activist. Goodness, this story just breaks my heart! She is no different from you or me! She just wants to get an education and make a difference in the world and she, in the midst of incredibly hard circumstances, is choosing to stand up for something she so strongly believes in with no fear!! How incredible!!
I am not only heartbroken, but humbled. The school that I am going to, I never wanted to go to. I had plans to go somewhere else. Somewhere that I thought was more prestigious than a community college, and honestly I hate the school I am going to. I am praying the Lord leads me to a different college SOON, but I know that even if He doesn't, that I am there for a reason. Anyways, I say all that to say how humbled I am. I just hate school and if I was a quitter, I might just quit, but this little girl, this little girl would give anything to go to school. She said she wants to study law and politics when she grows up. She wouldn't care what school she studied at. She wouldn't care if it was Harvard or a stinkin' community college! She just wants and education, and is willing to fight for that! Oh, I am just so humbled and heartbroken!
I have been praying for her all day! Would you join me in praying for this little girl? Pray first of all for her healing. She is ok, but was shot in the head and possibly the neck. Pray that someone she comes in contact with would share the Gospel with her and that the Lord would open her heart to receive the Gospel. Pray that she would be able to get the education that she so strongly desires.

Education is the key to unlocking the golden door of freedom. -George Washington Carver

You can read the story of her shooting here. 

Let me just start off with saying this week has been a really, really hard one. I don't remember a week being this hard since probably, the first week of my Honduras mission trip. I think I have cried everyday, ha ha! I have really been missing Virginia and not just missing but feeling like I am supposed to be there, not here. And it is so hard when you feel like you are supposed to be somewhere else, but you aren't and you know that the Lord has a purpose for this time in your life, you just don't know what it is. That period of waiting and waiting for the Lord to show you what His plan is so hard and has always been hard for me. I found this verse and it helped me to take heart and to know that this season of life will not last forever,  

James 1:12 "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."

My trials will not last forever, thank you, Father!

Yesterday morning I found my box of books from my bookshelf in our Virginia house and I found many books that I want to read again, but the one that I chose to read first was "Lady in Waiting." It has so touched my heart. The first chapter talked about Ruth, and she says this that really hit home, "Ruth had to forsake the familiar and the comfortable in order to receive God's best for her life." If Ruth can do it in her day, then I can do it now. The Lord was with Ruth every step of her journey and I know He is with me too. He is such a loving, kind, caring Father, and I know He knows what is best me and I will come out stronger and closer to the Lord after this time. So, I will hold on to that and celebrate when the day comes that I no longer have to struggle.

Kati C.