This month, I celebrated my one year anniversary of being overseas! This has been the most stretching and challenging year of my life. I have a lot I could write about, but here are just three ways I’ve grown in the past year:
- Resilience: Willingly starting over to build a new life in a brand new place builds a special type of resilience! No one told me I had to move overseas, but outside of God’s direction and leading, this is something I chose to do. I feel like I had a vague idea of what I was getting into, but now that I’ve actually lived overseas for a full year, I have realized how much I need God to get through each day. God has used every curveball, some good and some bad, to grow my resilience and trust in Him.
- Reactions: James 1:19 says that we should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Cross cultural living provides a LOT of opportunities to be frustrated and irritated! Some of this is normal and is part of the adaptation process. However, I have learned that my reactions to situations show what’s really in my heart (Luke 6:45) and I want my friends to experience the grace and forgiveness from Christ in my heart.
- Love for the Nations: Living overseas has gotten me out of my comfort zone of my nation (America) and has expanded my view of nations. I have always been interested in the Middle East, but living here has expanded my experience of the world. There’s something special about watching nations become real through meeting people from different backgrounds and living in their environment as an outsider. The nations are always on God's heart, and I feel like this year has brought me closer to His heart for all people to know Him!
I have loved this year. Although it’s been extremely challenging at times, it has brought me closer to God in a new way. I am excited to see how God continues to build on what I’ve learned this year and see what new things He does in year two!