Beauty instead of Ashes

I will be a college graduate in two weeks. TWO WEEKS. two weeks. two weeks. TWO WEEKS. tWo WeEkS. TWO WEEKS.
I can hardly believe that this is true.  The past four years have flown by.  When I look back at them, I see a blur of so many things, so many memories, so many adventures, trials, joys, and accomplishments.  I was thinking today about eternal perspective. As I near graduation, I think about what my college experience will mean to me.  Obviously, I have learned a great deal about speech, language, and hearing disorders.  I have learned to live independently and to take more initiative and lead.  But, today I was thinking about the impact that I made for God while I was in college. It may have been small, but even the small things are great to the Lord. I am so praiseful for the work that God has done in and through me.
       The Lord keeps leading me back to Isaiah 61.  It is a passage that is near and dear to my heart. "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance for our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion-- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." v. 1-3
I firmly believe that the Lord has called me back to Africa this September. I am so excited to go back and serve Him and the people there, and yet,  I am so scared to go.  I am mourning the fact that I will no longer be with the amazing community that I have here at school.  I worry about finding a job when I get back, I worry about applying for graduate school.  I fear the unknown situations that will occur there. As I was researching the areas we will be going to on the trip, I broke into tears.  Seeing the living conditions of the people in the Kibera slums broke my heart.  I saw faces that were stricken with desperation.  I saw indescribable poverty displayed on the film.  I saw the faces of children longing for love. I looked at those pictures, wondering about the impact that I was even going to have when I went there.
And yet...the Lord has Called me to preach the truth about His love and grace to the poor.  He has called me to walk in His spirit and show the broken-hearted the comfort and satisfaction that can only come from a relationship with Jesus.  He has called me to preach the gospel, even though I often don't know the words to say or the right way to say them.  He can use me in powerful ways.  God has a calling for you, also.  It may not be in Africa.  It may not be overseas.  God has a plan and a purpose for you no matter where you are or where you have been.  His plan for your and my life is so beautiful, so perfect, that we can not even begin to imagine it.  Sure, it may be different than what we had planned.  If you would have told me 2 years ago that I would be moving to Africa (Lord willing) after I graduated from college, I would have never believed you.  But the ways of the Lord are sovereign and perfect and good. It is my prayer that I will see the Lord transform lives to beauty instead of ashes no matter where He has me or you.