A few weeks ago I spent some time with my CGA leader Marielle talking about life and some things going on in my life. This season for me has been challenging, exciting, interesting, and growing in the Lord all at the same time. When I was describing my week to Marielle she summed up my time in Guatemala in three words.
The Lord Knows……
Simple words with a profound meaning in my life. I don’t know why many things happen in my life the way they do but the Lord Knows.
Before I came down here one of my prayer requests to God was for another male CGA apprentice to be down here with me for this four month period. I didn’t know why God didn’t give me another male apprentice for this season in life. The Lord knows why I didn’t get another male apprentice. To be honest with y’all knowing myself is I would’ve invested so much time into the male apprentice to disciple him and to hopefully become friends with him. If this happened I wouldn’t be fully invested into my sisters in my life and growing on how to be a better brother to my sisters. My listening skills wouldn’t have grown as much. Maybe i wouldn’t have been invested at the base as much. This has ended up being more of a blessing than a burden even in the hard times.
Another thing that I didn’t understand at times is why I’m down here in Guatemala. There were times where I wished I was back in Gainesville, GA at AIM headquarters. Last season I lived in a house with all guys and it was awesome! I loved spending time with my sisters in Christ but I knew at 5pm or at least later during the evening I had a solid few hours each day without estrogen domination around me. Relief!! In Guatemala it’s more like being on the World Race in some ways for me especially being around many women 24/7. There’s two base staff who are males here but not always around 24/7. God created women uniquely and are very different than women. I’ve been on many walks where I’m sharing about life for about two minutes and then the woman shifts gears in about five seconds on another subject. Then I’m put in the listener side for about 20 minutes at least. This has made me grow into dying to myself and learning how to put others first. Women will make you learn and grow really quickly! Sometimes I’m in the situation of listening to the women about their day or what’s going on. At others times I’m praying for them without them even knowing it for things in their lives. One thing I’ve been doing is celebrating anniversaries of our time together by giving out encouraging notes, red Chokis to them (it’s a super awesome Chips Ahoy like cookie with chocolate on the bottom so good!) or making a video to show them what God is teaching me through them and speaking to the women truth and they’re strong women in Christ. I’m not perfect in this area I’m a guy and there’s statements I’ve said where I’ve had to apologize to them for and I thank them for the grace they gave to me in the times where I don’t say the right thing to them. It’s a process one day at a time.
One last major thing that the Lord knows is a major reason why I’m in Guatemala is to become more intimate with the Father. Last season when I was in Gainesville there were many fun events happening all the time. Volleyball Sundays, going out to eat, house parties, Church on the square, talent shows, and so on. Most of the time if there were activites involved with people I was there. I want to make sure my season was fun and that I made the most of every opportunity! At times I tried to fill my time with things where people were at instead of spending time with God. I can spend time by myself to a certain extent. After a while my brain is like I need to be around people. God made us to be people who desire an intimate relationship with Him but relational beings also which I’ve will never fully understand until we get to Heaven. God create us to marry which is one man and one women united together as one. Someday I want to married and have a family but God wants us to be married to Him first before another person. So there’s plenty of solo time for me to draw closer to Him. If I was in Georgia this semester I don’t if I would get this concept fully of intimacy with the Father first. It’s hard but so worth it!
Thanks Lord because you always know what we need for a season and you’re a good good Father!
