SLI Class of 2015/2016

Emotion.  Tears.  Sadness.   My heart is filled with many feelings at this moment in time.  As I sit here writing this I am starting to realize the realness even more so of the events of this weekend.  I graduated Servant Leadership Institute.  I spent the last few hours tonight with my class, the last for a time.  I have spent the last ten months with these people, no, that is not fair to call them people.  They are children of God; Brothers and Sisters in Christ.   They are so loved by their Father in Heaven, by their families and by me.  My heart has grown because of them, they are deep within me.  Oh how they have blessed me.   My heart is soft and open, I do not know how exactly to react to these feelings.  I never wanted them to come, yet here they are.  My classmates, my best friends, my siblings in Christ’s family.  These masterpieces of God’s creation mean so much to me. They have…. have… I…. I cannot begin to describe they love they have poured out over me.  I look at any and all of them and I see God in His glory.  I see the love that Christ has shared with them being poured out. 

Saying just even summer good bye’s tonight was so hard.   I don’t like saying good bye.   I know that I will be returning in a few months, yet life won’t be the same.   Each of us will be going our own ways, some staying some going.   But the atmosphere of SLI has passed, a new atmosphere is here.  We have been given this opportunity to create the atmosphere that we want to live in with each other.  

Emotion floods me.  I have been with my friends for the past ten months nearly every day. Now, I said good bye to them for a few months, hoping that before everyone heads off to the next part of life, that we can get together yet again.  Though life will take us far and wide, the relationships that we have built this year will last forever in our hearts. 

Janette, Jasmine, Sierra, Rosalie, Brooke, Ariel, Daniel, Dana, and last but certainly not least, Amanda.  SLI Class of 2015/2016, I love you guys, will miss you greatly over the summer and hope to reconnect this fall.  I am looking forward to how God will use you and where He will take you.  He has wonderful plans for each of you, and His heart is big and loving.  He will take you where you are to go.  He will carry you through tough times; He will love you always.  When your heart breaks, remember that He is the healer, He is the provider, He is the comforter.  He will always be with you; to guide you, to love you, to encourage you.  He is an ear, He loves your voice.  He loves you.   As your father, He protects, guides and sets the example for you.   Trust in Him.  Lean on Him.  Listen to the Holy Spirit, who is by your side always.  As you have all spent the last ten months to Sit & Soak, now Go & Glow.   To God be all the Glory.

I have loved being part of your class this year! Thank you for accepting me in and allowing an American to join your family.   I am so blessed to have you guys in my life!  My eyes are watery and my heart is soft, I love you guys.   Be blessed as you have blessed me!

Until next God wills us to all meet again,

Joshua Baurer