a couple weeks ago, i said goodbye to the sweet home Jesus made for me in Jeffreys Bay, and made my way to Chiang Mai, Thailand.
we made a big leap from quiet, peaceful little J-Bay, to the big, busy, beautiful city of Chiang Mai. we are literally living in the middle of the city. theres a street market on every corner. Our 2nd night here, I found out that I can walk to the market, get pad Thai for like 50 baht, and be back in bed all within like 10 minutes. A dangerous revelation to say the least.
i’m loving it. The city turns me into a new gal, truly. I’m talking a yoga doing, spontaneous worshipping, smoothie drinking, alone time spending, podcast listening gal!
I always forget how much the atmosphere surrounding me effects my spiritual health and mood. city life makes me feel like a part of something big ! This environment gives me a new sense of responsibility, both spiritually and emotionally. The Lord is showing me that there is always something to be praying for, someone to be pouring into or poured into by, somewhere to see and hear and touch. The emotional busy body in me is ALL the way out. This mindset of seeking Him out around every corner is one I hope to make a permanent part of myself.
for my next 2 months here, i’ll be serving at Agape Home: an orphanage for children living with HIV and AIDS.
just before leaving south africa, we got to attend an informational session at PVT ((which, by the way, absolutely rocked my socks. I love my parents and I’m so proud of the beautiful servants they are and spending time with them was so special!!!!)) all about HIV and AIDS, and it’s something the Lord laid very heavily on my heart. after meeting a little girl in a village called Mombani whose physical condition obviously revealed she was dying of AIDS, i couldn’t get the thought of children and people dying from these diseases out of my head. It has become something I pray about constantly.
what a beautiful gift it is to get to love on the kids i’ve been praying for. He is so kind to me.
at Agape, we will be serving wherever needed. whether that be cleaning, sewing, painting, or just being available. once the kids get out of school for summer break, we will have opportunities to teach english classes, do swimming lessons, lead a VBS program, and snuggle babies! Currently, I am a painting machine. Kat and I just finished painting a rainbow mural in an English classroom, and now I am working on painting the alphabet on a fence! My time spent painting has been so soothing and peaceful. Who knew how much thought processing could be done while painting little flowers and clouds???
Lately, the Lord has been reminding me of how much I enjoy my time being an introvert with Him. I have a fat tendency to over extend myself in my relationships and rarely take time for myself. However, the rare moments I do get alone with myself are some of my favorite ever, and usually the most intimate I have with Jesus. As I have been obsessing over the enneagram, once again, I’m continuously reminded of the way I feel misunderstood almost all the time. The more time I spend with people I look up to and love deeply, the more understood and significant I feel. So, naturally, I spend most of my time on the race with Avery and Lindsey, my best friends/role models. Not that these friendships are unhealthy in any way, our time spent together is always fruitful and sweet and encouraging and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. BUT- I can often prioritize that time over the time I let myself be introverted and quiet. Lately, Jesus has been showing me that it’s all about balance, baby!!! I’m coming to realize that when I’m balancing and cherishing the times spent in silence with the moments spent in community, my spiritual health is at an all time high! As I’ve had the opportunity to experience the silent times in abundance lately, I have found serious rest and refreshment. when I do speak, I have found myself to be more inclined to words of kindness and patience. Funny how it’s truly nothing I am striving for or consciously trying to change, but something that is a natural reflex from talking to Jesus more than the people around me. All in all, I love being alone!!!!
@ people who also suffer from prioritizing alone time,, I really really get it. But MAKE IT HAPPEN !!! Its so worth it, I promise.
Prayer requests: that this new mindset & rest I have found will sustain me! That I can continue to allow quietness into my daily routine! That I can love the children and people at our ministry only with the love of Jesus! That I can be healed of bronchitis! That I can find self control when it comes to buying Thai tea and mango smoothies everyday!
So thats the tea for the past couple of weeks. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, it really does mean a lot to me. Count down to 2 1/2 months till I return to the Motherland. Gee wiz. I love you!
-Paige
