This month of the World Race has been so incredible. I have an easy time getting to know people and falling in love with them too easily…thanks mom…but I am learning there are positives and negatives to this.
Positive: People feel comfortable around me and share things about their lives that they wouldn’t share with some people.
Negative: I leave bits and pieces of my heart EVERYWHERE I am.
Positive: I’m really good at showing God’s love because I genuinely LOVE YOU.
Negative: When I leave a place I have been for a month or even longer, I cry a lot because I know I may not get to see these amazing people again.
How am I supposed to move on to another place when I just want to stay and love these people longer?
The same thing happened last month. As I waved goodbye to all the people I did life with for a month I taught, “Why did God make me this way? Its not easy…it actually kinda stinks! I don’t want to love so deeply, I don’t want to feel this pain, I wish I didn’t have these emotions.”
Well this month God has been teaching me a little about why He made me this way.
1. I am JUST like my momma in this way…which is not a bad thing. My mom is the bomb and I always wanted to be like her so here I am…being my mom.
2. I am an example for people who do not show their emotions outwardly. You can ALWAYS tell what kind of mood I am in, so you know when I am happy, mad, or sad. This way people know how to approach me and people can always see how much joy I have from the LORD.
3. I genuinely love you so much, so you can always come to me with any issue or struggle and I will listen and probably cry with you. I am approachable and trustworthy.
4. Just because I am emotional, I am by no means weak…in fact I am really strong because I am confident in my emotions.
5. Finally, I am like Jesus. Jesus may seem like this super strong man who has no emotions…but can we all just remember the shortest verse in the Bible??
JESUS WEPT!
He wept!!! Now if the Lord of the universe can show His emotions and show how much He cared for the people He loved, so can I!
With all this being said, I wanted to share some pictures from this month that have made me cry. I am trying hard to live one day at a time and not look back at what has happened and not look too far forward that I miss what is around me, but I know I am going to look back at this month and miss it so very much. This month has been absolutely amazing! Our ministry has changed my life, the people I have meet have changed my life, and I honestly just don’t want to leave…but I know I need to go on and do the rest of this journey. I just want everyone in these pictures to know how much they mean to me and how much I am going to miss this month.
Our last Saturday ministry. We had almost 60 kids there that day and they all gathered around us and prayed for us. Talk about emotions!!
Our last Wednesday ministry. We had a women’s ministry with these beautiful ladies who are truly examples of Christ and His love. I got to spend two of the weeks with these sweet babies as their mommas worshiped the LORD. It was amazing to give them a break for an hour and let them focus on their hearts and the LORD while we watched their kiddos.
Ronald, Douglas, Julia, and me! In Antigua, ministering to the homeless people there.
I could talk about these two guys forever but I will make it brief. Ronald runs the homeless ministry we did this month. He is only 21 years old and has literally built this ministry from the ground up! Douglas was our translator this month. He opened up and shared with me all about his life and I am happy to say he is one of my best friends. I am truly going to miss these two so so much!
UGH! How do I say goodbye to these sweet babies?!
Its also all squad month, so it has been so fantastic getting to know the people on the squad better and more deeply than before. What an incredible adventure to be on with such amazing friends.
So just to recap, I am feeling alllll the feels right now about leaving Chimaltenango, Guatemala in just a few short days. Please keep us in your prayers as we head to Honduras!
I love you guys, and I truly mean it!
Blessings,
Niki
