Written 9/5/18 (traveling from Cambodia – Month 8 to Ethiopia – Month 9)
One Constant
I currently just stepped onto a bus. This bus is headed to the airport. From there I will get on a plane I’ve never been on to go to a place I’ve never been to to encounter people I’ve never met. I’ll eat food I’ve never tried with smells I’ve yet to smell and see God’s creation in a way I’ve never experienced it before.
My environment is ever changing. The people I spend the majority of my time with changes from month to month. The variables in my life are continually different, constantly shifting, rearranging, and moving.
Frankly, I’m used to it. It’s normal now to get on a bus, trust the process, be flexible, and listen to those that have been put in leadership positions. I’ve grown in patience and trust of those around me. I’ve grown accustomed to letting questions get answered in their time and giving my stress and frustrations to the Lord, because I trust Him and know He will get us where we need to go safely.
It’s normal to know that each month we will set foot on new soil. It’s normal to know that each month we get to learn about a new culture, learn basic words in a new language, see new faces, be exposed to different parts of the body of Christ, fall in love with those God puts in our path, see God work in big and small ways and so much more…
We don’t know what we don’t know and we have to have grace with ourselves in learning, respecting, and loving those around us well especially when that can look so much differently then what we are used to at home or other cultures we’ve been immersed in.
It’s the the beginning of month 9 and we will be spending the month in Ethiopia. This lifestyle of living out of a backpack, knowing that our environment will drastically change every month, that our hearts will break with every goodbye but get filled with every beginning/encounter/relationship built, etc. it’s all become so, as weird as it sounds, normal.
The beauty of all of this is that there is one thing that never changes. One thing that is constant now and always will be. The one thing that gives me hope when I feel like I can’t do this anymore, the one that comforts me when I don’t think my heart can continue to break and be filled anymore, the one that has an endless supply of patience, peace, joy, love, kindness, gentleness, and grace.
The only constant in my life is Jesus.
I’m blessed He brought me here to teach me that no matter where I am, no matter what distractions arise, no matter if I’m in luxury or poverty, no matter how many times I fall short, no matter what happens in this life and the things my heart goes through, HE IS THERE.
He is right here with me and always will be.
He’s my one and only constant not just now but for the rest of my time on earth.
That’s enough.
His promise is all I need.
He’s enough.
I pray He always will be.
Thank you Jesus.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
??Hebrews? ?12:1-2? ?ESV??
