You Set This Heart on Fire (BCM Week 9)

I do realize that I am way behind on this. I've actually had this update written for almost 2 weeks now, sent it out via email, and forgot to update here. This is my last and final update from my summer BCM internship. If you have missed my frequent updates, they are all here in order from most recent to oldest.

Sometimes the only journey we need to take is within ourselves. Physical relocation has nothing to do with it. It is a heart relocation that God looks for and when we open ourselves up for His unconditional, purifying love, we journey much further than our feet could ever carry us and beyond where our dreams thought we could reach. And if we allow God’s divine influence, He will bring us home.

Greetings in the Name of the Lord,

It has been a couple weeks since I completed my internship in East Palo Alto . The Lord has indeed done a work in my life I wasn’t expecting, nor could I have ever dreamed of – He has given me a purpose, a passion, and a vision for life. In my final days with my classroom, I realized God accomplished much more in my life than I came to accomplish in the community. Teacher became student. Student became teacher. As simple as that.

Among humility and patience, my students taught me what it means to love unconditionally. When you stare into the eyes of a child who adores you no matter what your faults, who respects you despite the numerous times you’ve had to discipline him or her, and who takes one look at you and realizes he or she is safe, cared for, and respected, you cannot help but fall in love. Anahi, Bianca, Stephany, Izzie, Jose, Jose, Angel, and Natalia literally stole my heart this summer and to be honest, I don’t need it back. Six weeks didn’t feel like enough.

Though this is the last of updates you will receive from me, I would like to ask your continued prayers in the community of East Palo Alto . The Lord is doing great things there and will continue to do so long after our quiet exit as interns. Pray for healing among the families, for God’s protection to overwhelm the children. Pray that these kids may witness miracles in their life, to turn to their Heavenly Father, and realize not only are they important in His eyes, but they are unworthy because of sin and understand their desperate need for a Savior. Pray that these kids will grow up to be future godly leaders in America , able to overcome their circumstances because of God’s saving grace.

As cliché as this sounds, God changed my life this summer. Despite the many things going on in my personal life, I was able to make an impact on these kids and that is an experience I will treasure forever. On the night of the banquet, one of my classes performed “Where is the Love?” in American Sign Language. It didn’t really occur to me until after the fact that all summer long that was what I was searching for – that I’ve spent most of my life searching for – what love really means. And I’m sure God will continue to reveal the meaning of love over my lifetime, however long or short it is, yet I feel privileged to have received this gift of understanding at the age of twenty. I spoke to the community of EPA in attendance about how the song talks about the tragedies and terrorism that is an unfortunate reality of our world today but how we, as the signers, call upon God, our Heavenly Father, to come show us love so enemies can become friends.

“God gives us Himself – His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity,” the priest at the church I attended over the summer said during my last Sunday in EPA. “Being imitators of God sets the bar very high, but it’s not unattainable with the power of Christ in us. We HAVE to be people of love. ” He continued onto speak about stocking up on the Word before we all disappeared off into work, school, or wherever we were going this fall because we need His strength if we will make it in life. We need spiritual food for our journeys. “God sent His Son to reveal some of His mysteries to us, and through this His very character and His Word is revealed to us, who we are, where we’re going, and where we come from is revealed to us.”

I journeyed to California this summer thinking God was telling me to change my plans and that my dreams needed to be diverted. I came into East Palo Alto thinking God was perhaps calling me back to my childhood home (and He was for reasons beyond my understanding but not in the way I expected), to possibly teach, or even work with children. God confirmed quite the opposite. He brought me out of Pennsylvania to show me what I have here at Geneva , what I’m supposed to do, where I’m supposed to be, and why. I do not need to ask for your prayers to make this vision a reality because I know just by revealing it to me, God has already made it a reality. I would, however, like to ask for your continued prayers that I will continue to seek after the Lord with a childlike faith, with honest praise, and an unashamed love.

God is love. That statement has profoundly changed my perspective on life, my purpose, and my heart and soul. He IS love. Are you experiencing His love?

I’d like to conclude with a song that touched my heart – comforted, strengthened, and encouraged me after the completion of one crazy, chaotic, but proof of God’s transforming power, His amazing grace, and His unending love. Let this be your prayer as it is mine.

No One Else
Matt Papa

God, You are my God
I will seek Your face
With all my heart
Soul and strength
Sovereign God
My Abba Father
I will trust in You forever
Jesus, Master
I will follow You
You shed Your blood for me

Everlasting Sovereign God, You are my desire
There is no one else for me
Jesus, Savior, Risen One, You set this heart on fire
There’s no turning back for me

Faithful God, my dearest Friend
You have my heart
Come take my hand
And walk with me
Oh how I need
Oh Your touch, Your face
Is all I see

Everlasting Sovereign God, You are my desire
There is no one else for me
Jesus, Savior, Risen One, You set this soul on fire
There’s no turning back for me

How could I ever cease to sing
Of the praises of my God and King
You are all to me, my everything
No for You Lord, I live, I’ll bring
My sacrifice of praise to You
Lord, it’s all of me, my life unto
The Living God, You shed
Your blood upon the cross
Now everything is lost
Compared to knowing You,
My Savior, what else could I do
But follow You for all my days?
My lips will never cease to sing
Oh praise Him, sun and moon and stars
Oh praise Him all you sons of God
Praise Him angels, follow Him
All creation and Amen!
Praise Him in the sanctuary
Praise Him for His mighty deeds
Praise the Lord with song and dancing
Praise the Lord, oh my soul, praise Him!

Everlasting Sovereign God, You are my desire
There is no one else for me
Jesus, Savior, Risen One, You set this soul on fire
There’s no turning back for me

Oh there’s no turning back,
You set my heart on fire!

Psalm 34: 1-4 "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble will hear of it and be glad. Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His Name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."

In His Grace,
Hannah