I’ve ended a whole bunch of emails to a friend at home, “if I’ve learned nothing else these last couple months, at least I’ve learned that…” after finishing up probably ten or so emails with that, he pointed out that I wasn’t allowed to say that anymore, because my list of things I’ve learned was getting pretty long. Ecuador has been no exception…
i had my first really hard day on the race. my iPhone got stolen from inside the church we’ve been working in. i had a weird feeling about it being outside so i took it inside and the kid still went in and took it. it’s not the phone that i care about, just the last 12 months of pictures that were on there….but, i reminded myself it was okay. worse things could have happened….really.
we worked hard that day. i had blisters and my body hurt. i cried a little about it all and thought i had moved on. then, i found out my eye make up remover spilled. (it seemed like a big deal…i don’t know, ha.) and the tears started coming again.
i carried on and continued packing (not my favorite thing to do in general) and found a stack of cards that a friend had sent me for each month and i realized i hadn’t opened may…so i did. inside i found a picture that said i miss you and a little packet of almond butter. WHAT A BLESSING. i love almond butter and have had a hard time with food this month. a few seconds after that, Brooklynn asked me if i wanted one of her apples. an apple and almond butter?? did the Lord really just give me a gift like that after a day like this to remind me He loved me?
it really could have been a hard day…and it kind of was. but in the end and after being put in perspective…it was all really okay.
on the same note….this month could’ve been hard.
I had a brand new team. I am gaining weight from all the carbs, and am somehow usually still hungry. our first ten days in Ecuador were awesome and the rest of the month has been a bit harder…harder work, less appreciation and a lot less rest. plans change every hour and sometimes it’s frustrating.
but somehow, it has been so good. my team has had such a positive attitude about everything that happens. we get asked to mix and throw concrete all day and we laugh while were doing it. we get thrown into an English classroom and asked to sing a song and we make something up. we get asked to pickaxe a sidewalk for four hours and we throw some music on and get to work. we get asked to lead a bible study the next morning at 630am and everyone contributes something…the perspective we’ve had on everything is refreshing. i can see the Lord’s love in everything that they do.
I was texting a friend (from the wifi we had!!) and was telling her about this month…
she’s right. this lesson might be the most important one I’ve learned and I didn’t even realize I learned it. no matter the situation at home, where you are, where I am, or anything…no matter how great or how much it sucks – it really is all about expectation and attitude.
so in this month where not everything has been perfect…my team has been my “apple and almond butter” that the Lord has gifted me with. something that i love – something that’s satisfying, encouraging, positive, refreshing and a little reminder from the Lord that He really does love me.
i also made a little recap of the month and stuck it on youtube…it does a good job of showing the personality of my team and the work we did. check it.
