Life in Côte d’Ivoire is still so good. We finished organizing the library, and I was even able to borrow some books from Pastor Zacharie’s collection to read in our downtime (I’ve finished 5 since we’ve gotten here, and I do admit I have a problem). We continue to evangelize with the youth and see the church grow and new sisters and brothers in Christ born. I was even able to preach last Sunday, where I gave a sermon on missions based on the passage of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well. I felt such peace and passion as I was able to deliver it in two services. Finally, the long-awaited good news is that I AM FULLY FUNDED. Goodness, I cannot say thank you to all of you and thank you to God enough for provision.
(Picture above: from last Sunday after church with my team (One Pulse), the other team we have worked with and will work with next month in Ghana (Ethereal Flames), and some of the youth at Mission Ephrata)
Little joys of this month have included mastering bucket showers and hand washing our clothes. While doing laundry with Teagan, one of my teammates, last week, I was scrubbing away, feeling very accomplished and excited to check laundry off my list. As I was pulling out my second load piece by piece from the bucket of water, however, I noticed something a little different about my white shirt- it wasn’t exactly white anymore. Unfortunately, I had washed it with my new pair of maroon Elephant Pants, so suddenly I had a tie dyed pink and white shirt instead. I could have been upset, but instead, Teagan and I burst into laughter for quite some time. What else could I really do?
Even with what little clothes I brought with me on this trip, I know that God is continuing to teach me to let go of my earthly possessions and cling to Him alone. He’s also teaching me the blatant lesson of, “just go with it.”
(Picture above: Me in- you guessed it- the before mentioned Elephant Pants and newly pink-tinted shirt)
Cultural differences have been difficult to understand and respect and maneuver at times, but more than anything, I know that God often moves most in the middle of our messes and unplanned changes of scheduling. Whether in Africa, Asia, Central America, or back home, God wants us to release what we think is best and free our hands to receive the much, much better plans that He has for us.
This is a lesson that my planner-obsessed self will continue to learn this year, but I know that as I learn, Jesus is patient, and there is the promise that I will see His goodness in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13) Pray with me that I get to see it in my life and that you get to see it in your life, so that we will catch a glimpse of the great and mighty things He can do when we get out of His way and simply call on Him to do great and mighty things. (Jeremiah 33:3)
These next 11 months will be filled with ups, like delivering successful sermons, and downs, like accidentally tie-dying my shirt, and every level in between, but I am so very thankful that we are serving the most constant Savior and His everlastingly applicable message of grace and hope and love.
