Since arriving in Palacaguina, a lot has happened in my heart. It may be the end of the Race, but I am still learning new things and growing more than ever.
So we arrived, and were told that our main ministry is going to be constructing a Christian, bi-lingual school right next to our ministry host’s church. Now, if you know me, I am not really the “construction” type. I hate being behind the scenes. I have had the opportunity for most of my race to do relational ministry, having direct impact on peoples’ lives. Now here I am, on the last leg, and my team’s main ministry is basically scooping dirt. Externally, my attitude wasn’t bad, but I was just about imploding at the thought of this being my life.
I asked God to show me what joy is. Just when I think I have this one figured out, God tells me I have more to learn about it. He told me I was letting my circumstances dictate my level of happiness. Honestly, I was far from thrilled about my new life in Palacaguina the first few days here. I was given a brand new team that I didn’t know yet, living in the middle of nowhere Nicaragua, using a bucket shower and toilet without running water, doing construction, and living in a house that (at the time) looked like a jail cell. Initially, I wanted to create my own joy, but I couldn’t.
So I started praying for joy despite the circumstances. I received it abundantly, and learned a lot about what it really is in the process. Here is what I know about JOY:
- Joy comes from the Lord.
- Joy is a free gift given to us from the Holy Spirit, and we have to reach out and grab it.
- Joy runs deep through seasons and trials and situations.
- Joy can be found in Thailand or Cambodia or South Africa or middle of nowhere Nicaragua or Lawrenceville or anywhere, really.
- Joy is not just a positive attitude (I tend towards that naturally anyway).
- Joy cannot come from myself alone.
Have you ever come to a place where the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10)? I have. That’s how I am getting through these last months. And guess what? I really love it here! I love my team. I love dumping cold water on me in the concrete “shower” after ministry. I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY. I love getting to preach and sing at the church. I love the time I get to spend talking to our host family and my teammates. I love joking around with the other workers when we do construction, drinking Pepsi with them, and shoveling dirt for hours. I love helping with the kids at church and feeding programs. I love our little town and getting to know the locals. I may not love the bugs, but I love the times we crack up at how scary it is to smash praying mantises and cockroaches left and right. Life is good, God is really good.
I’d like to encourage you to ask the Lord to pour joy into your heart. Not superficial happiness, not a positive outlook,not a facade… but vibrant, genuine, unwavering JOY!
