“Time is like a wheel”

"Time is like a wheel. Turning and turning - never stopping. And the woods are the center; the hub of the wheel. It began the first week of summer, a strange and breathless time when accident or fate brings lives together. When people are led to do things, they've never done before."

– Narrator, Tuck Everlasting, the film

In the book Tuck Everlasting, Winnie Foster felt her life changing all around her but did not know how to handle the changes. In fact, she really wanted time to stand still. There have been times in the last couple of weeks that I have felt the same.

I graduated from Cedarville University on the second of May. My parents and sisters were able to come along with many of my extended family which made it extra special. The day turned out to be a beautiful sunny day, and after the ceremony we celebrated with two of my other friends by having a picnic.

Although only just over a week has past, it seems more like a month. Many other changes have taken place since then. I stayed in Cedarville with my friends, the Dewhursts, for a week while the rest of my family went to Tennessee. I wanted to spend a little more time with my friends before saying good bye. I also wanted to spend some extra time with Sierra.

Sierra is a ten year girl I met while tutoring at Cedarcliffe Elementary School. She comes from a poverty line home and has a lot of special needs. More importantly, she does not know Jesus. Over the last month and a half I have seen her knowledge of God's love increase greatly. Her understanding amazes me. I feel like I am standing by watching a time-lapse camera of our Father, hand-growing a flower. Her sister joined our "hang"-times this last week and seems just as excited to learn about Jesus as Sierra is. I had been praying about getting Bibles for them, and they were both given Bibles by different classmates this week. Have I mentioned how neat it is to see God working in their lives? You can pray that God continues to increase their understanding of Him. A local church has agreed to look into their situation as well. Pray that the Father would give them wisdom on how to best minister to them.

I am now in Wheaton, Illinois, living in a one bedroom apartment with my parents and sister, Julie. It is quite cramped! My family is still waiting to hear from the Zimbabwe government about their work permits. While here, I hope to be able to find an apartment of my own and a job for the fall when I begin to attend classes at Adler School of Psychology.

At the end of this month, I begin work at Camp Timberlee in Wisconsin as a high ropes course counselor. My sisters will also be working at a camp nearby.

The wheels of time are indeed turning and all this spinning is making me a bit dizzy. While out in his fishing boat, Angus Tuck, from Tuck Everlasting, compared his immortal life to the rocks stuck on the edges of the river. He watched life flow by and could not really be a part of it. On the other hand, he compared Winnie's life to the river itself. He also told her, "Don't be afraid of death, Winnie. Be afraid of the unlived life." I will admit, I am afraid of what lies ahead. I am also sad to leave the life I had at Cedarville these past four years. But I am also excited about the plans the Father has for me. Like Winnie decided to do, I plan to live life to my fullest God-given potential. I hope that those of you, who read this, will continue to help me do this.

Over the summer I know many of you will also be involved in ministry, have to face challenges and changes, and will also just be living life. I WILL be praying for you!

Thank you, again, for all your prayers, the graduation gifts, and friendship. I am so blessed to have friends and family like you!