The land of Chocolate and Cheese

I went to Switzerland a couple of weeks ago, just thought it'd be fun. So I hopped on a plane and about 12 hours later I was there. I spent three weeks traveling all over the country with my friend Seraina, staying with her family, riding the train, trolley, buses, trams, and boats everywhere. It was awesome. Here are a few of my favorite views:

I took this one at the top of a rock we climbed during a day of rock climbing.

We stopped at this lake for lunch during a hike another day.

Same lake as above, it was so beautiful everywhere you looked, these pictures don't even do it justice.

Perspective

I'm doing a Beth Moore bible study right now on the book of Daniel. This morning she spoke on feeling inferior. One of the things she said that stuck with me was that self loathing was just as bad as exalting yourself because ultimately you're still focused on yourself (not her exact words...).

Lately I have been somewhat stressed and worried about what to do after Friday. Where I should go, what kind of job to get, what I want to do, what God wants me to do, what my gifts are, how to pay down some of my debt. Beth really reminded me this morning that my focus has been on myself completely and not the Lord. When we're focused on ourselves its so easy for our problems and issues to be magnified ten times bigger than they are. I get so caught up in my own life that I forget that everyone around me is dealing with things as well, I am not the only one. And my problems are nothing compared to the things that some people are going through.

This summer that was one of the things that stuck out to me most I think. I really started to gain a new perspective on struggle and pain. It seems as though I often think the pain in my own life is such that someone else should care and give sympathy. But my pain is nothing compared to that of another persons. Who am I to feel sorry for myself because I'm having a bad day, I don't know what someone else is going through. If they've just lost a loved one, are battling sickness constantly, have major money issues, just lost their job that was their entire life. Who am I to think that my bad day can even compare to what someone else may be going through?

These past few months have been about me gaining a new perspective on life and I was again reminded of that today. My focus should be on the Lord, not myself and whatever struggle is there today. Focus on the Lord and the rest will fall into place in due time.

A long overdue update on life

Dear Friends and Family,

It would seem it has been many months since I last sent you an update on my life, that is for a number of reasons. 1) My life is anything but what I expected it would be at this point and, 2) during each step I have wanted to wait until I had more definite plans to share. I have come to the decision though that definite plans may not be forthcoming and so an update just needs to happen.

Last I wrote I was living at home (in Asheville, NC) and working part time at my parents church and then also helping to get an after school program off the ground with Camp Cedar Cliff. There have been many changes in my life since then so let me fill you in a bit. The middle of February plans suddenly came to a halt on the after school program and for a number of reasons completely beyond my control I was informed it would no longer be happening. Seeing as this was one of the main reasons I went back to Asheville after graduation it left me scratching my head and back at square one of figuring out what to do with my life.

I eventually took on a job waitressing at a local country restaurant not far from my house and continued on at the church. Around the end of March I began to again think I wanted to be involved in camp ministry and began to search for a camp internship. I came across River Valley Ranch in Maryland and eventually became convinced to apply for a summer position there discipling high school students. The beginning of June I moved to Maryland for 10 weeks to work as the TNT program director. My job was to help disciple 150 teenagers and 8 college students while planning the program and activities with my partner, Taco. This past summer was one of much growth, challenge, and a summer that I thoroughly enjoyed. I ended the summer not wanting to leave and without a clue of where to go once it was finished.

The day after camp finished I hopped on an airplane to Zurich, Switzerland where I then spent three weeks traveling and visiting with one of my dear friends from my YWAM days, Seraina Monsch. She and her family were so gracious to open their home to me and share their country and culture during that time. It was a GREAT time of traveling, talking, taking pictures, making new friends, and experiencing a new culture. This is a trip that I have been wanting to take for 5 years now and it was certainly one that will be forever remembered. I feel so blessed that I was able to finally take it.

I returned from Switzerland this past Saturday and am back at the Ranch for a few days helping with a retreat group, visiting with friends, and trying to piece together what comes next. To be completely honest I am without a clue as to where I should go. I have a couple of options but am not entirely thrilled with either of them. I would ask for your prayers during this time. More than anything I want my life to be one of serving the Lord and doing something that will outlive my own life and affect more than just myself. I’m currently torn between two very different paths that would take my life in very different directions, each with positives and negatives. Again, I would ask for your prayers that the Lord would make his path clear and grant me wisdom in knowing the right choice for my current life.

I hope this letter finds each of you doing well, I would love to hear how you are doing and also how I can be praying for you.

Blessings,

Holly