It’s 10:30pm and I just got back from our orientation talk a few minutes ago.
To be honest, I am surprised at how nervous I feel going into this month. We’ve been told our ministry site is a 5/5 hardship rating in a small pueblo, about 22 hours away from La Paz (where I am currently).
I loved my time in Africa, but also felt a really intense type of loneliness there. It was hard to be living so much life and have it feel so unconnected to anything that was happening back in the United States. It was hard to eat mostly carbs, to lose our water supply frequently, and to be surrounded by people who have grown up so differently than I. I loved the time there…but I also didn’t really expect to be back so soon.
I’m not going back to Africa, persay, but the expected living conditions of this month will likely be more difficult than what I experienced there. We will be tenting out in a pueblo in an area known for high heat, humidity, and lots of mosquitos.
My mind’s still trying to wrap around my time in Peru, my time with my Mom, and the reality that I’ll be on a plane back to the U.S. in about two months. But life is moving moving moving.
To get to La Paz today, we had an overnight busride, 6 hours at the Bolivian border where our group was randomly pepper-sprayed by police twice, and then another 4 hour ride. Changing money, changing time zones, changing months. Whew. This girl could use some prayer.
For now, though, I have a couple more things to think about that are closer in time-vicinity.
We found out today that our contact, in fact, does not speak any English. This means that I will be translator for my team unless the Lord miraculously provides someone from the pueblo who speaks any English. That task seems really daunting to me— I haven’t studied Spanish in over 5 and a half years, and I will soon be responsible for translating for my team.
I don’t write this blog to be an alarmist or a victim. In fact, I just feel a little overwhelmed, and I think that’s okay. Courage today doesn’t look like “feeling it”; it looks like setting my jaw and moving into the direction of my fear, trusting that God Will. Not. Leave. Me.
I am sensing for this month that the Lord wants me to rely solely on him. He always wants this, but sometimes it’s more pronounced. I *may* still be posting blogs (writing is a form of spiritual connection & discipline for me), but I will not be on email or social media for the month.
So, pray for this little missionary gal over here. Pray for our team. Specifically, you can pray for:
-Protection during all forms of travel (bus, van, boat)
-Protection from parasites & bacterial infections
-At least ONE person in the pueblo who can speak English
-Anointing & favor in our pueblo; that our time would be powerful and anointed
-Team unity & encouragement
-The word of God to be a rich strengthening to our spirits
Thankful for you all.
With love,
natalie
