Hi Family!
Please forgive me for the length of time that has past since the last newsletter I sent out. Can you believe it has already been 6 weeks since I left home and landed in South East Asia? I know I can’t believe it’s ONLY been 6 weeks! Thus far my time has been filled with meeting fantastic people, learning the language, and going to weddings. I absolutely love it here and I cannot wait to see what these two years have in store.
Aside from all the fun and new experiences I have been learning so much about myself. It almost feels as if I Am is holding up mirror to my face and telling me to take a close look and evaluate myself. “What are your weaknesses? What are your strengths? Where are the areas you must allow me to grow and stretch you? Give all of these things over to me and in time you will understand what you are here to do.” Let me tell you doing a self evaluation where the creator of the universe is the proctor is not a self glorifying task - on the contrary it’s quite humbling.
To date, the primary lesson I have learned is patience. Before this trip, I really thought I was a patient person. For a long time now I have considered myself a go with the flow kind of person who just takes life as it comes. However, what I doing in my first few weeks is there are more lessons to learn regarding I Am’s timing and trusting it. Many journal entries and prayers later I think I’m starting to get the hang of the [patience + trust] formula. Now that I have accepted it as a necessary my outlook on why I am here is shifting.
I am simply a vessel. In my own power I cannot make anything happen that is outside of what I Am has willed for my time here. For now my job is simply to remain open to plan that is unfolding moment by moment. And as long as I keep my focus on Him and my ears tuned in to His Spirit I’ll be ok.
Thanks for reading Fam! Love you all so much!
Much love,
Alyssa K. Strickling
Prayer Requests
Recognition of who the people of peace I Am has already put in my life
Other workers in this country. Pray for encouragement to continue to show hope and be love.
Language learning