Au Revoir, Winona!

"There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance." -Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 


As I pulled out of Winona in my CR-V and headed south last week, it was with a great mix of excitement and sadness. The Lord has blessed these past nine months with an abundance of grace and joy. It's so hard to believe that my first year as a FOCUS missionary is over! It seriously seems like only a couple months ago when my dad and I pulled into that beautiful bluff-filled valley that would soon become my new home.

And while the quiet town of Winona certainly is beautiful with its lakes, bluffs, Mississippi River, churches, and fun restaurants (with their cheese curds and popcorn), what really made Winona "home" for me was the wonderful people God brought into my life in my short time there. From my awesome teammates throughout the year (Mark, Mary, Jake, and Aaron), to the welcoming Catholic community in Winona, to the amazingly holy students at the Catholic Newman Center, and to the beautiful freshmen women that I mentored and had in Bible Study, the Lord's blessings truly abounded, and I am sincerely humbled to have been a part of their lives this year!

But, just as holy scripture says, "there is an appointed time for everything," and now I have to trust in the Lord's plan that my appointed time in Winona must be a short time. It is with a bit of sadness but also with great excitement that I look forward to my next adventure serving as a FOCUS team director and missionary on a new campus this fall. I will no longer be in Winona, but I trust that the Lord's plans are far greater than my own, and that the blessings He graced me with this year will continue as I continue to serve Him in this mission. What's also exciting is that all the blessings I left in Winona will be waiting for the next missionary who comes in my place! What a joy!

Below are some memories from this year--- I can't possibly list them all in this post, but looking back on this blog gives me such joy in seeing all of the Lord's graces! I will be officially announcing my new placement on here in a couple weeks, so stay tuned! Thank you all for your prayers and support-- this amazing year could not and would not have been possible without you. May the Lord bless you dearly this summer!

~Emily

Hello new state! :) 

FOCUS Team Winona State- Fall 2011

Flannel Fridays at the Newman Center!

Matching retro sunglasses with my teammates! 

FOCUS Team Winona State- Spring 2012

Spring Break NYC Trip

One of my Bible Study groups of amazing freshmen women!