Moving from one place to another.

Hello friends! I apologize for not posting earlier, I figured I’d let some time pass so I actually have something to post but now this is a long one so I hope you make it to the end.

I moved to Boston about four weeks ago and started working already. In terms of finding an apartment, God was really gracious to me. I felt somewhat stressed while I was in Vegas and trying to make my transition. But now I have a place with two other guys (one of them Christian), and they are really cool about living together. I don’t have many things in my room but I enjoy of what I do have: a guitar, books, my clothes, and a borrowed air mattress that I sleep on. It’s nice to have so little as it feels liberating yet can also get boring when I exhaust my discipline with guitar practicing and writing.

The primary thing I want to share in this post though, is about the church I go to. These past four years have been incredible in what God has being doing in me. But I am still a young Christian, learning what it means in every aspect of our lives. And for the past four years, I have identified as a Catholic Christian due to me loosely growing up in the church. I also have been rather negligent in learning what it means to be a Catholic Christian specifically. But the time has come for me to fully explore where God wants me to be.

Lately, I’ve been reading about the particulars of Catholic and Protestant theology to try to understand what the situation is between both church groups. In practice this looks rather odd. I have been reading books on what the wholesome Catholic belief is while attending a Protestant church. It is also a difficult thing to process, especially on my own and is largely the reason why I go to Hope Fellowship Church. So far, I have learned many things about both churches that I previously did not know and processing where I stand spiritually. The reason I have continued to attend Hope is because through mutual complicated circumstances, I have always felt a lack of a connection within the Catholic community.

I know that I fall so short of any of my efforts and need God’s mercy to help guide me in all the things I do. Hope is a wonderful church that has opened its doors in this time of transition for me. I ate lunch with one of the pastors, Dane, and shared with him my faith background and where I currently stand, both spiritually and emotionally. He is a blessing from God in praying, encouraging, and guiding me with an openness that shouldn’t have surprised me but did so anyways. Unfortunately, this discernment process is taking a toll on me. I had been unable to sleep at times and will just think about this process, as well as my job, my family, my friends, the past four years.

There is still a long road ahead of me. For the time being, I feel God’s encouragement in attending Hope. I get the sense that He means to bless me through this church and intends to grow me to share myself with them as well. It can feel difficult and lonely at times but I am so grateful in remembrance of all the ways that God shows that He has been and is always with me.

Juan

p.s. I think next time I'll post about all the other things that I have found or done in Boston :]