Late at night on September 29 I was sitting out on the balcony outside of our room. It was finally hitting me that this is for real. I’m not coming home soon. My family and friends are on the other side of the world. All of my belongings fit in a backpack. I have little time to myself. I’m surrounded by squad mates that I just met in July. Every single article of clothing I have with me was dirty. Basically I was a little overwhelmed…I’m confident that I’m supposed to be here for this season of my life, but a part of me wanted to throw my stuff in my backpack and forget about this crazy thing we call the World Race. As I was processing all of this God kept reminding me that He is the Same God….He is the Same God that was with me at home in Chicago. He is the same God that has walked alongside of me my whole life. He is the same God that was with me through college. The same God that has always provided me with a job. The same God that was with me on previous mission trips. The same God when I didn’t know the next step to take in life….And He is the same God that will be with me in the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, India, Nepal, Romania, Ukraine….So, I started making a list…
He is the same God…..
When I’m surrounded by family and long-time friends….
When I’m surrounded by teammates that still feel like strangers at times.
When I had a regular paycheck…..
Now that I rely on the gifts and donations of my faithful supporters.
When I used to be terrified of taking care of babies….
That has given me the love and opportunity to care for two orphaned babies.
That is STILL walking alongside my family and friends at home in the U.S…..
JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY AND TODAY AND FOREVER…HEB. 13:8
When I was regularly using my teaching skills/degree……
When I’m shoveling rocks for hours under the strong sun in the Philippines.
When I had regular internet access to connect to anyone at anytime…..
When I have to travel into town to reach internet only to remember it’s the middle of the night at home and nobody is awake.
I was clueless about the culture, love, and Faith of many people in the Philippines.
Now that I’ve met countless Filipino men, women, and children who are seeking after the Lord and desire to see their country follow after the Lord.
THE LORD IS NEAR TO ALL WHO CALL ON HIM, TO ALL WHO CALL ON HIM IN TRUTH…PS. 145:18
I lived in an air-conditioned house with an additional window air-conditioner in my room to make myself more comfortable….
I now know people that live in a house with half of a roof and not enough walls…..
I complained about not having enough storage space in my last classroom for my MANY boxes of teaching materials…..
I observed a Filipino classroom that didn’t have any extra books, supplies, materials…and definitely no extra storage space….
THE LORD IS FAITHFUL TO ALL HIS PRO MISES AND LOVING TOWARD ALL HE HAS MADE…PS. 145:13
