The End... For now...

So here draws to a close an incredible 5 weeks.

I cannot even describe how incredible my time with Betel has been, but I have tried to as best I can in this blog.

I will miss every single girl in that house, the laughs, the deeper conversations, and even the more mundane things we did together
I will miss the church, the worship which made me want to die just so I could go to heaven and do it for eternity 

I will miss seeing a sea of scarred, tattoed arms raised in adoring worship to our king 

I will miss the sermons and teaching which would not only challenge me but challenge my girls and be the subject of many incredible conversations
I will miss seeing smiles with teeth missing
I will miss everyday hearing the most mind blowing testimonies of transformation
I will miss my fellow interns, the inspiration they were to me, the wonderful example they gave of Godly, loving, servant hearted, passionate persuers of Jesus.
I will miss hearing every prayer begin with something like 'God I thank you for what you've done and what you're doing in my life. I thank you you that I don't live on the streets, that I no longer take drugs, that I don't have to sell my body to buy drugs...'

I will miss the privilege of working in an organization that started from a couple of obedient hearts and is now an ever growing organization which has pulled over a hundred thousand people out of the pit and lead them into the loving arms of God. 

I will not miss beginning everyday with hitting my head on the above bunk.

But I will miss pretty much everything else about that place.

And I believe I will carry a bit of that place in my heart forever. 

'Once a Betelito, always a Betelito.'

You may be wondering what's next for me. Those of you who have been following this blog may be wondering if I still feel called abroad if I've had such an incredible time so close to home.

Well at the moment it still looks like an emphatic yes to overseas mission. The thing is throughout my time at Betel God did not let me forget about the rest of His world and the more specific areas and people I feel Him calling me to long term. If He had not been reminding me in the most profound and amazing ways I would probably have been tempted to stay at Betel forever.

He called me to Betel for that season. And I don't believe I have seen the very last of that place, I have been given an open invitation to come back and visit, an invitation I shall certainly be taking up at the nearest opportunity.

He called me there for many reasons I believe. Partly to show me more of the magnitude of His power and love. To show me the reality of the fact that He can do far more than I can ever ask or imagine. To show me the importance of a humble, obedient, serving heart. To remind me of His love for the lost and the broken, and my call to bring them the good news.

Thanks to everyone who has been reading this thing for the past 5 weeks, sent words of encouragement and prayed for me, it has genuinely been so appreciated.

God is good all the time

God is good and that is His nature.

God bless you

Caris x