This month, we had the opportunity to help our ministry contact Mariana with her garden. We pulled weeds, burned them and harvested potatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, tomatoes and zucchini. While we were weeding, we came across a few roots that were so deep that we couldn’t pull on our own, so we needed to ask one another for some help getting it out. We eventually finished and we were so excited to see the finished product. Mariana’s garden looked so nice. We walked away that day, covered in sweat and dirt, carrying a bag of vegetables that we helped harvest.
Throughout that whole experience, I heard the Lord telling me, “This is what I’m going to do with you, daughter.” I just thought the Lord was telling me that He was going to help show me the fruits of what we were doing with the afterschool program, but the Lord had another thing in mind.
God was going to pull up roots of doubt that the enemy had planted in my heart.
No one wants to see the real Catie… pluck.
I’m not good enough… pluck.
I can’t sing… pluck.
There’s no weight to what I say… pluck.
I’m unlovable… pluck.
God loves getting His hands dirty, He loves to sit with us in our mess. God is not afraid of how much of a mess we can be at times. Over the last month, I’ve been able to see our mighty God sitting on His heavenly throne looking down pleased with His work, and unashamed of the dirt under His fingernails.
I had (and still have) many roots of doubts, fears, anger, and other things from the enemy, but God is walking with me through my garden, and helping me pull out the weeds that I’m not strong enough to pull on my own.
He has called me His BELOVED.
He reminds me that I AM NEVER ALONE.
He calls me His MASTERPIECE.
The Lord is teaching me to walk in freedom. He is healing relationships in my life. He is bringing me closer to my teammates and squad mates. He is showing me what true community looks like. He is showing me that life isn’t easy. He didn’t call me to a comfortable life, but He has called me to higher. And when I am obedient, He is so pleased.
Update: We made it here in Bulgaria, we are staying in an apartment in Stara Zagora working with a local church here. We will be doing ministry with a refugee camp, women in prostitution, Roma (Gypsy) children, and working with teens in the area. I am really excited about this month and all the opportunities we have! This month, I have also decided to fast from social media. I will only be posting here on this blog, so if you would like to stay updated, please subscribe to this blog!
Financial Update: I only have $1,086 until I am fully funded! My final deadline is in November. Please consider donating on my blog under the “Donate!” button.
