Good Week With New Experiences!

This week has been a good and encouraging week, perhaps the best week yet because I was actually doing something…completely new and I was put out of my comfort zone!

I spent most of my hours this week arranging music for the orchestra ministry that I am creating from scratch. It was a lot of hard work! Recruiting people was already hard, now I actually have to write the music...because we don't have the "right" instrumentation for regular orchestra music. I’m not so good at composing and arranging music in general that arranging orchestra music served to be a greater challenge. But I did finally get them done for our first orchestra rehearsal Thursday night...took me about 2 weeks to get 1 piece done though! I’m definitely learning as I go especially because I’ve never exactly started an orchestra before. Nevertheless, it was a good week of writing music and just learning even from the musicians during rehearsal on Thursday. What was to be a 3-person orchestra grew to be a 16-person orchestra! It's incredible how God works! I’m so blessed that He sent those people my way and we are all able to share our gifts and talents with one another!

This week, I also had the opportunity to lead worship for the first time…and it was good that my worship pastor was also up there with me to help me along the way. I was very, VERY excited when he told me that we were going to try and start doing some worship leading this week. It was for a Wednesday night adult Bible study, which had a smaller group of people than Sunday morning – a good way to start, especially because it’s a different crowd and feels more “awkward”. I was more nervous because of the fact that I hate hearing my voice through a microphone...let alone, singing! There is a reason why I'm a piano major! I never consider my voice to be all that great, but I'm learning...or trying to, at least! It was definitely a new experience for me!

As Wednesday night rolls around, I became more and more nervous but just like performing on the piano, my nervousness faded as I stood up on stage and started worshipping. In that moment, I just felt a sense of peace coming over me and I began to see my passion for leading worship began to grow. I began to see more and more of what God’s will is for my life, as my calling to this vocation continues to be confirmed. Although I still do not know his exact plan for my life, I know that ministry is no doubt a part of it – I really love and enjoy working at the church the past few weeks and it has given me more joy and happiness each day. I’m thankful for many people at the church who gave me encouraging comments that continued to lifted me up. And I’m especially very encouraged by my worship pastor and mentor who constantly encouraged me each step of the way, giving me advice and critiquing me when and where needed. It’s really a blessing! This whole week has been a great learning experience for me all around and I’m truly blessed to have encouraging people around me to speak to me so that I can continue to create a character of Christ within myself and become His humble and faithful servant. 

However, as I'm going through my internship, it has been very difficult to spend time practicing with the piano (as I have addressed in the past few blogs). I have less than 4 months to get ready for my senior recital and I'm completely overwhelmed because nothing is up to a point where I want it to be. I've been more and more discouraged as I practice and it has proven to be very, very challenging. Although I have not lost my passion for the piano and performing, I am beginning to be hesitant in the plans and expectations I had set for my own life. I have realized in myself more and more that I need to start letting go and surrendering everything to Him. He is my Rock and Strong Tower, my very present help in time of need - a devotional that I read last night when I was at the peak of discouragement. I need strength and wisdom each day to get through because He is faithful to His children. "Lord, help me rest in Your promises."

And that is my prayer request this summer, friends: patience, humility, strength, and wisdom through these challenging times both within my internship and my own life. Again, I thank you for your constant support and prayer for me...I truly, truly appreciate it!

God bless,

Andrea