Last night was one of the hardest nights I've had since being on the island. I had my usual Friday: class most of the day, volleyball in the afternoon, dinner with friends, studying until bedtime. I generally study in a building near my apartment. I got home around 7:30, hopped in the shower and then was off to dinner. I went straight to the study building after dinner and stayed there until 11:55. This is the routine I've had since August of last year...with no problem. Last night was the change. I walked into my room and turned on the light to find that someone had broken into my apartment.
One wall of my apartment is made of wooden slats that open to allow for air flow. This is typical architecture for the Caribbean I assume. There is a large screen (like any normal window screen) outside the slats to keep mosquito's out when the windows are open. I walked into a giant section of the slats missing. Apparently whoever wanted to get into my room had cut a large rectangle of the screen away and then broken the metal clasps on the slats. They were quite neat crooks because they took the time to stack all of the wooden slats nicely in a chair that was on my patio. I was very lucky that I was not involved, such as being home at the time, as well as nothing was taken from my apartment. Luckily I had most of my valuables with me and the ones that were in the room were not in plain view. I was mortified and basically completely freaked out at the fact that someone had come into my room, or even that it was possible.
I spent the day today moving apartments to a room without the slats (simply because it makes me feel more safe). While I was moving, I kept thinking to myself...I can't believe this happened. However my thoughts were quickly turned away from the unfortunate event to the good fortune that God had blessed me with. Yes, someone broke into my apartment and caused some damage to the window unit. However, and I think most importantly, I was and am completely unharmed and safe. Materialistically, I didn't lose anything in the event. Unfortuanately a guy that lives two doors down from me was also robbed and lost his computer and iPod, please keep him in your prayers as he is trying to deal with all of this, on top of the loss of all his school work that would've been on his computer.
I was listening to some music that Chris, my fiance had recorded and emailed to me tonight while I was trying to get things straight in my new apartment. At the end of one of the songs, he goes into a song that most people know, but rarely take to heart...it really hit home with me as I was thinking about all that has happened since last night...
"Jesus loves me, this I know...for the Bible tells me so....little ones to Him belong...they are weak, but He is strong...Yes, Jesus loves me....Yes, Jesus loves me...for the Bible tells me so..."
Not only does the Bible tell me of God's love for me, but Jesus Himself shows it to me in the most miraculous ways. Obviously my first thought wasn't..."oh goody, what's God trying to teach me through this experience"...that would just be un-human. However, now that I've had time to think about it and God has really been speaking to me, I can only thank Him for the grace and protection he sent my way last night. I pray that God takes care of the people that were affected by last nights events, for the men/women that broke into my (and other people's) apartment last night. I pray that God finds some way to get through to them and completely rock their world the way He has mine!!!
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