I will never take another breeze for granted. When you're living out in a village in Cambodia during their hot season that boasts 100 degree weather plus humidity, with no AC, sweating through your clothes over and over again throughout the day, a breeze is worth more than winning a $1000 shopping spree at Nordstrom. If I had a birthright, I'd probably be tempted to trade it in for a room with AC or a tall glass of iced tea with unlimited refills.
After posting my last blog about being hot and tired, I went into a new week feeling more tired than ever. And it started getting hotter here. My first reaction was a negative one of "oh great, this is getting worse" and I began feeling a little bit of sympathy for the Israelites. I wondered to myself how – how do I get this strength that God promises in my weakest moments? Because I wasn't feeling it. And I was desperately seeking it. Do I put on shiny red shoes and tap my heels three times? Or is there an "easy" button around that I can push to have God's strength come fill me up? But then I began feeling more breezes (or maybe it was that I started noticing those breezes). Those breezes began serving as reminders of the prayers that I have been receiving, and how God is answering those prayers.
I still wasn't getting a good night's rest. I was still feeling more weak, tired, and hot than I ever have before. I was feeling a difference though with the bursts of strength that would come over me, like a breeze passing through. I would wake up exhausted and with a headache, but when it came time to ride into the village to teach English, I got the energy I needed for it.
I'll admit, when asking God to become my strength in times of weakness, I imagined some sort of superhero thing happening where I became this unstoppable force. I didn't expect to still feel just as weak as ever. I was still grateful for what I had been given. Just enough to make it through each day and feel like I was offering something worthwhile.
This week I got blessed with more than just a breeze. We had a major rain storm that came through and cooled everything down. I was so excited for the rain that I went and stood in it and felt the cool rain hitting my face and soaking my clothes. It was a blessing to feel a chill and shiver. Just that one rain storm has made the past few nights cooler. I have slept soundly every night this week. I have felt refreshed and filled with new strength. I feel bursts of joy that I have been missing greatly. I'm so thankful that in my last week here, I have been able to enjoy all the goodness this month has offered.
I know without a doubt that it was because of all of your prayers and all of the encouraging words that I received on my blog and in emails. So thank you for continually fighting for me back home. I can feel those prayers and watch them get answered.
