Birthday on the mission field.
I can’t even tell you where I am. I do know that we are somewhere around 2-3 hours outside of Phnom Phen but that’s about all the details I have. It’s hard being away this is the single most homesick I’v been in the last 10 months I guess in part because I can almost taste home and also because it is my birthday….last year I did not have my birthday at home either. We were at training camp 3 days in and here I was with a bunch of crazy strangers who all committed to this life changing year. I guess at that point I thought the next year was so far of sure having my 22nd birthday in Cambodia no biggie. Turns out I was wrong.
So much has happened within this past year of my life I’m not even sure how to express it really. I’ve seen some many places but most of all I’ve seen God move. My passport now has 15 new stamps in it and my heart goes to so many more people then I would have ever thought possible. The friends I’ve made on this race on the field and in the squad are gifts from God. Most likely some of the best presents ever. I now have community that gets me….sees me for who I was created to be and has watched me move and grow and loves me the same.
I cant tell you I wouldn’t love to be home today because that would be a big fat fib but I see that God has me here in this season to grow and change and I am thankful for the opportunities I’ve had and will have because of this year. Lately I’ve been hearing a lot from God about who I am and where I’ve been. I guess the best way to explain my story is by using the parallel of the Israelites in the days of the old testament.
They strayed from the word of God so many times it’s hard to keep up with. They had great leaders and prophets who warned them and taught them but still they walked away from God but the beauty of the stories are in the extreme grace and mercy our Lord has. Every time they called upon Him he answered.
Nehemiah 9:30-31 say:
In your love, you were patient with them for many years. You sent your Spirit, who warned them through the prophets. But still they wouldn’t listen! So once again you allowed the peoples of the land conquer them. But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are!
I guess in that I see where God has patience and grace enough for everyone. I know I used to and sometimes still make Him use it more than He should have to but that’s the kind of God I follow.
I used to stray a lot only coming to Him when it was the bottom line…not fully trusting in His love. But now look at me I live by faith most days and strive to when I can’t on my own. I see God’s had in things I would have thought was absent in. I know that he works all for good and that everything is for Him and I have got to join the party. (in everything I do and think)
I don’t know I’ve been doing a lot of thinking sometimes that’s goo and sometimes it’s very jumbled but here I am on my 22nd birthday sitting in who knows where village knowing God has a plan for this season and for the next and until the end of my days and I don’t know about you but I do know I take comfort that my God is a planner 🙂
