Tuesday night was my second week of a women’s Bible study going on at the church I will be attending while in Worcester.

Can I just say that God is a perfect provider? Time and time again, He never fails to blow my mind with how He perfectly fulfills both the needs and desires in my life.

I wanted to connect to a community of Christ-seeking believers and hear the Word unadulteratedly preached, thus He provided The Church on Seven Hills. I wanted to make friends with women that I would get along easily with and would iron-sharpens-iron with me for the next few months, thus He brought me to the church the week of a women’s study starting. Already, chowing down on phu is happening this Saturday with one lady from the group and checking out a coffee roastery with another.

“Blessed beyond measure” seems like an appropriate description.

Speaking of hanging with ladies from the group, one named Devon invited me to the Zumba class she attends every Wednesday evening!

I did a little Zumba back in college and have thought about picking it back up several times since then, but never did. Until this past Wednesday.

We did the class in this adorable dance studio inside of this barn. The aesthetic was there and I was ready for it.

I was sweating bullets by the end, but I left with a big smile on my face. This will be a regular thing for the rest of my time here (and who knows…maybe afterwards too).

So, let’s travel back to my college days, circa 2013-2015. I was part of a Bible study group and the leader of that Bible study group had a daughter named Kayla. I got to know her, befriend her, study the Word with her, even witness the meeting of her and her future husband (such a great story). Anywho, Kayla’s husband is in the Coast Guard and they have been stationed in Cape Cod for the past four years. In a few weeks, they’re moving to another base, but Kayla and I got to cross paths while they were still only an hour and a half away!

It just so happened (by Divine orchestration, if you ask me) that Kayla was hosting a women’s conference of sorts in her home the weekend I came down. Susie and Liz run a non-profit organization, called The Well, in Florida, which is centered in training up women in discipleship and kingdom-building. Such cool ladies that truly embody taking up their crosses daily. I was so enriched/challenged/loved by them and I only spent 24 hours with them.

Saturday, we headed off to do a bit of touristing. Our destination was Plymouth and what lay within its borders.

(I’m sorry, but am I the only one that thinks of Sense and Sensibility when I hear the word “Plymouth”?)

One of our stops included the National Monument to the Forefathers, which commemorates the Mayflower Pilgrims. I’m a sucker for symbolism, so this was such a treat to slowly circle around and explore the symbolism of each ideal the pilgrims stood by: Morality, Law, Education, Liberty, and Faith above and in the center.

I’m told Kirk Cameron did a movie about this monument called, you guessed it, Monumental. From the explanation I received from Susie/Liz, I think it might be worth the watch.

We then headed off to Plymouth Rock, which as the sign below explains, is the landing place of the Pilgrims.

Don’t get me wrong, history is so interesting and insightful, but sometimes…a rock is a rock.

Luckily, we found out there was a free tour about the Pilgrims’ voyage, landing, and presence in this area, which was super fascinating. Our tour guide was well-versed in his history and revived life into the stories of the people who were the origins of our country.

He directed us towards a fountain, which is dedicated to the women who voyaged on the Mayflower and the part they played in the survival of the group.

At the base of this fountain were inscribed these words, “They brought up their families in sturdy virtue and a living faith in God without which nations perish”.

Whew.

God never fails. He never makes mistakes. He never forgets us. He’s always reminded me of this, but it is in this season that the lesson is that much more clung to. I’m so grateful for the gift of friendships, both old and new, and for the gift of humbling reminders.

I so look forward to what lies ahead for me and am learning what bearing my cross daily is looking like, both in this season and in moving forward.