Ecuador Soundtrack

There are two songs that have become the "soundtrack" of my time here in Ecuador. Oddly enough, the first was independently discovered by two other students. I believe it has become part of their "soundtrack" as well.


It's "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" by Hillsong United. I personally like David Wesley's version better, simply because it's more my style. I began listening to it almost non-stop when I got to O'Hare to leave the States.

And the second, a lifelong favorite, but one that has become infinitely more precious here: Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us. There's something inexplicably calming about being able to sit in the pitch dark and play that old hymn on the piano just as badly as I do at home.

Anyway, these two have been a help to me, and I hope they might be a help to you as well.

Accepted

I've officially been accepted into the NPU Study Abroad program!  This may appear to be self-evident, but it's just that the paperwork has all been done.  Now all that remains is for me to attend three study abroad sessions to, essentially, tell me not to do anything stupid, how to not do anything stupid, why not to do anything stupid, and ways to make myself appear less stupid.  They don't say it in so many words, of course.  It's a "study abroad seminar to prepare students for..."

People at church are probably going to get tired of me telling them I'm going to Ecuador.  But I am, naturally, indomitable and unsuppressable (which, my computer is telling me, is not a word), so it's not like they have a choice. After all, it's a wonderful feeling, being told that I've been accepted, officially.  Nothing can stop me from going to Ecuador now.

Now, I understand that Paul wasn't talking about study abroad when he said that we've been accepted in the Beloved.  But that consideration aside, the first thing that came to my mind when I read that word - accepted! - was this song:

In the Beloved accepted am I,
Risen, ascended, and seated on high;
Saved from all sin thro’ His infinite grace,
With the redeemed ones accorded a place.

In the Beloved— how safe my retreat,
In the Beloved accounted complete;

Who can condemn me? In Him I am free,
Savior and Keeper forever is He.

In the Beloved I went to the tree,
There, in His Person, by faith I may see
Infinite wrath rolling over His head,
Infinite grace, for He died in my stead.

In the Beloved, God’s marvelous grace
Calls me to dwell in this wonderful place;
God sees my Savior, and then He sees me,

In the Beloved, accepted and free.

Civilla D. Martin

And, if you don't know how it goes, here's the link to the tune: http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/a/c/c/accepted.htm. I highly suggest memorizing it.