Choose Joy.
Sure, my pictures look amazing.
And yes, I’ll be traveling all over the world for another 10 months.
And you’re probably thinking, this chick has it made. How much better can it get? And you’re right. It really can’t get any better.
But it has nothing to do with the pictures at sunset, the camel rides on the beach, or the delicious CousCous & Shawarma. It has everything to do with finding so much JOY in putting aside all things worldly; quitting my job, selling my clothes, leaving my pup, being away from family and friends all for one reason – to serve a God that is so much greater than my filtered pictures, adventures, or the opportunity I have to see the world.
It’s all about my opportunity to SERVE the world.
It’s all about the *Great Commission. It’s all about reaching the countries where missionaries don’t usually go. It’s about serving these nations. It’s about loving these people and these sweet children. It’s about building relationships and sharing the Gospel.
And it’s not always easy.
I’m currently in a city in Northern Africa. A city where it is illegal to attend a “Protestant Church”. A city where the “secret police” will question a local if they join our daily prayer time. A city where it is illegal for me to evangelize at all. It is strictly an Islamic state – where we, as Americans, have to blend in as much as possible and be extremely careful about who we reach out to. It’s easy to not be joyful.
My team devotes 4 hours of prayer every morning to the lost people of this city. We pray for spiritual and physical healing, direction, and boldness for these people.
It’s tough trying to find a way in with people that have been so threatened by their religion for so long. Our prayers reach out to the relationships we’ve begun forming with the locals, the long term missionaries in this area, the international church, and the underground churches. My specific prayers reach out to the orphans at the Crèche that we have been working with since we got here. A majority of the older children are special needs/handicapped and are in need of love and healing. A huge percentage of the children are under 1 year old. And there are a few little boys around the age of 9 that have had my heart since day one. I struggled with choosing joy my first few days at the Crèche. Within 5 minutes of our very first day (no exaggeration) an ambulance driver brought in a new born abandoned on the streets – how do I choose joy? Walking upstairs seeing the multiple premature infants, or the 2 year old with an extreme disability – how do I choose joy? With the the young boy who was in the process of adoption and it fell through – with his broken little heart, how do I choose joy?
It’s not easy. But it’s possible. I keep God’s love first. God loves each and every child under that roof. He sent me here, not to shed tears every time I walk in those doors, but to LOVE those children every time I walk in. To experience JOY through a newborn smiling up at me, through touching the face of little boy that is paralyzed, blind, AND deaf, or by letting the older boys beat me at a game of fùtbol or ninja. I FIND JOY in that Crèche.
I guess what I’m getting at is that while being in the midst of God’s beautiful creation and traveling the world with some amazing people, there is still struggle.
That while my pictures and experiences may seem glorious on social media, my heart is already breaking for the people and children I’ve met, and it’s just month one.
I hope that my joy is evident. But it’s through the travel, training, early mornings, long hikes, devoted time in prayer room, day off adventures, and team dinners that I have grown closer to the God that brings me joy. To the God that brings joy in an orphanage that is over capacity. To the God that helps me find joy when walking aimlessly through the streets of Africa to reach the lost. To the God that brings joy in any circumstance. Because he is the God of love. And because I committed to serving Him, I find JOY through the glorious and the heartbreaking moments of this trip.
I’m encouraging you – FIND JOY. Ask God to open your heart and eyes to every situation in your life, so that you can find joy. And so that you can serve Him with a joyful heart and overflowing love through happiness and heartbreak. Our God provides strength and an everlasting love, why would we not be joyful?
“I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take JOY in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord is my strength.”
Habakkuk 3:18 (ESV)
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy.”
Psalm 16:11 (ESV)
*The Great Commission
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
A more detailed blog about the Crèche will be posted later on. But as of right now, for security reasons, we aren’t allowed to share stories or take pictures in the Crèche.
Donations are still welcome! Im only a few hundred dollars from my race being FULLY FUNDED! God is SO good. Thank you so much again to all of the people that have helped get me this far! Love each of you so much!
A few prayer requests:
The orphans at the Crèche
The health of my team – we are all fighting terrible head colds, including myself
Our hosts – I can’t disclose names/organizations for safety reasons
Prayers for boldness and confidence for my team
Advanced prayers for our upcoming travel day and next month’s ministry
