Life Abroad

I’ve realized something, visiting a country and living in a country are two completely different things. Going on a m trip and being a m are completely different. I can’t honestly say that the first can prepare someone for the latter. Living life and learning language is not shuttling around with a group from one ministry to the next, it is living daily life, trying to figure out the ropes, setting goals, organizing yourself and your ministry as best as possible, and letting go of things held dear. I don’t get to go home in two weeks or two months, things don’t just go away, I have to face them the best I can and know how. If something’s wrong I need to try to fix the things I can and not worry about the things I can’t control. Living here I may not see miracles and mass conversion everyday, but I am privileges to see and be blessed by the Father in ways my boring human mind could never imagine! How many people get to see that – really – how many people are completely happy with their safe home, safe friends, and safe comfortable life and their safe church? As I read through the Bible I don’t see Christ demonstrating that life. I don’t see everyday of His life as a peachy “perfect” or easy day. As much as a part of ach of us longs for the easy life, we miss out on so much using that path. Christ demonstrated joy and passion (along with a lot of other things). Joy to find the best in each day and a passion to make the most of anything. Yep, I needed to preach that to myself.