From Africa to Home and Back
I have to be honest, like I’ve been anything but in my past posts, June and July left my head spinning. I did my best to just enjoy each moment I was blessed with both before coming home for a visit and during my time with my family and friends. But no matter how hard I tried to hold onto and savor every moment, somehow they slipped through my fingers and I found myself stressed out over how fast the time was passing. Of course, I had a meltdown or two over that. When it was time for me to return to Gambia, I felt like my time had not been enough but my purpose and vision had been reaffirmed through my opportunities to share my heart with different people. I did return refreshed and assured that my people at home had not forgotten about me.
When I look back on my time at home there are some highlights that I’d like to share. It was the “normal” moments that I had missed the most so I enjoyed those times the most. I loved being able to worship with my church family again. It was such a blessing to be able to sit under the pastor and not have to strain to understand his words and be able to grasp the message he was trying to bring across. I’m also blessed with a very loving church family and I sure felt every drop of that love each time I walked in. My last service at home, the ordained men of the church prayed over me and another group of missionaries that were on their way to Jamaica (where I first caught the mission spirit). I felt the power of those prayers and it was beyond words to describe the feeling.
In the beginning of my time I was able to stand next to my cousin who is like a sister to me and watch her marry her best friend. I was so glad to be there for that special moment in her life.
I also was able to go camping with my family during the July 4th weekend. I loved it because it gave me a break from the air conditioning that had been freezing me out of everywhere. If you saw me at all while I was home, I usually had on a sweater or sweatshirt to hide from this strange cold air. It was also a time to sit and rest and spend some quiet moments with my family and I was so grateful for that. Our campsite was directly on the lake. In my mind, a day on the lake is never wasted. To see water with mountains surrounding it was so beautiful after seeing mostly flat, sandy land for 8 months. I am just continually amazed at God’s creativity.
Lessons Learned This Month
I’m learning that sometimes living by faith is just taking life one day at a time and giving it to God before I get out of bed. I say I have settled into a routine here but Africa has a way of always surprising you and you just have to learn to go with it. Of course, I don’t ignore the future altogether, I just realize that I cannot control it and ask God to guide my steps to bring more glory to Him. One of my favorite verses since I was a child is Proverbs 3:5-6. He only asks us to trust Him actively. That means we take a step without knowing the outcome. It’s hard and scary, but what is life without a little risk?
“TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART AND LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS.”