Wow. It's only been one week and all I can say is wow. This seminar is going to be JAM PACKED with goodness. Our schedule is so full it's crazy, but I'm quite happy to have so much to do. Sure, it might be a pretty tiring 6 weeks, but it'll be the sort of exhaustion that feels good -like going to bed after a day of accomplished work. It feels great! This week we started out with teachings on shame and breaking its power. Hey-oh! God wrecked me haha. Once again, I thought I was coming to learn how to help others and God is doing work in me instead. (I'm starting to understand that they go hand in hand.) I won't lie to you, it's been an emotionally draining week. But that's how I know (already) that my time here is going to be SO refreshing and transformational. My Daddy is quite obviously shaping and growing me even more into His image, and I am always grateful for that. Along with lectures on shame, we learned incredibly eye-opening truth about sexuality and God's plan for it. We received further understanding of the reason for male and female and the importance of both parents in developing a child's understanding of God and, consequently, him or herself. Following these two days of teaching, we learned about prophetic justice and were shown that the root of injustice is within ourselves. We can't look around at the injustice of the world until we recognize and make right the injustice we, ourselves, have committed against God. The world sees injustice as what is done wrongly against self or others, but God sees injustice as what is done wrongly against Him. With this understanding of justice, we don't have to feel overwhelmed by the problems of the world. We now know that the key to a just world is repentant and healed hearts. The Bible doesn't tell us how to solve each specific injustice of the world. However, it DOES tell us the way to be right before God (and thus bring justice to God). We know quite clearly from scripture how this is accomplished -through Jesus Christ's sacrifice and gift of life. As we continue to walk out the justice we DO know (bringing justice to God) and disciple others to do the same, we see the injustice of this world fade away as a result. At the end of the week, we heard interesting teachings on the roots of homosexuality. That's not something I'm going to try and explain on here haha, but it was extremely thought-provoking! The truth on this topic is something I have long sought after. Only about a month ago, though, did I realize that my heart was hard toward the Lord's voice in this area. Even though I claimed with my mouth that I did not know what I believed, my heart was hard and bitterly stuck on one idea. I repented of that and asked God to show me the truth. He's the only one I trust with this. I opened my heart to His answer, no matter what He said. From that day on, I've seen understanding fall before me in different ways and I know that my Papa is leading me into truth. I've thoroughly enjoyed this week of class. We've had introspection and Spirit-led healing, new understandings on justice and sexuality, and case studies to give us practical tools to minister. Along with class, we participate in weekly outreach. Our school split into two groups and partnered with different, already existing ministries on base to pray for and serve the community. For the next 6 weeks, my group and I will assist the Evangelism team with their Hidden Treasures ministry. Every Monday night we'll go out with the team to serve hot drinks to community members who have fallen on hard times and get to know residence of our neighborhood on a personal level. I see that the Lord has been shifting me into this sort of ministry throughout the past year, so I'm eager to discover what God has in store for this time and the future. As far as prayer requests, I would greatly appreciate prayers for strength and endurance through this time, as well as courage and willingness to face that which the Lord is redeeming in me through this season. I really desire to be fully present in every moment, whether it's external or internal growth. So general prayers around that would be fantastic. Thank you all so much for your love and support! God bless!