Hey y'all!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Today has marked a month of being in East Africa.
You want to know the truth? I’m exhausted. I tried to do things on my own and it came back to bite me. I thought I had the energy on my own to socialize with what feels like a hundred new people a day. I thought I had it in me to show love and grace to those I encounter. I thought I could fight the attacks of the enemy on my own. Maybe I didn’t say all of these things aloud, but by action, it’s what I believed. I spent some much-needed time alone to reflect and pray. I was reminded of my need for the Savior and of the beauty in obedience to Him. He is comforter, sustainer, provider and all that I need.
I am learning to pace myself according to the way things go here. Life has a different rhythm in my city. I am learning to enjoy walking in front of buses and cars as I cross the road. (I promise, I'm being safe. Everyone does it). I'm slowly becoming friends with the women selling goods on my street and I have a favorite vegetable/fruit stand only a 10 minute walk away. As difficult as it can be, I’m enjoying language learning. I know it will be worth it when I can have conversations with people in the language closest to their heart.All of these things are new and I have to remind myself that it's going to take time. I want to move forward patiently, but with expectancy. I expect God to do great things. I know His heart is for East Africa to cry out to him "Abba, Father".
Only a month down and I’m looking forward to the rest of them. I wrote down some things to change. The timing just happened to coincide with the new year coming in ;) I move into the New Year resloving to invite the Savior into everything. The good, the bad, the messy. I invite Him to do what only He can do.
Friends, I pray that you would rest in the Father and allow Him to work through you. Whether you're on the other side of the world or going across the street, may He go before you.