About 9 months has gone by since me and 50 other people I didn’t really know boarded a plane for Costa Rica. During these past 9 months I’ve became great friends with these people, have had so many new experiences, eaten some interesting things, formed new perspectives, learned some hard things, done super fun things, explored more of the world, learned a lot more about God, stepped out of my comfort zone, been messy and smelly for just a little too long, dug into God’s word more, laughed a ton, done things I’ve never done before, and grown closer and more intimate with God. He has taught me many things these past 9 months, and its been a process. There has been ups and downs, but He’s so faithful, and He’s forming me into the man of God He created me to be. As you read these, know that I haven’t at all perfected any of these things, I still fall short of giving Him the glory He deserves everyday. However, my hope is to magnify Jesus and become more and more like Him everyday. When I’m home I’ll still struggle at times and be working on these things, but by His grace and goodness He will keep molding me and help me reflect him in everything I do and say.
So here is a list of some of the things God has taught me on this trip:
•How much it can change and impact your life if you get up in the morning and read and pray and just give the day over to God.
•Walking by the Spirit and what that looks like. Being in prayer throughout the day, walking by faith not by sight, having God’s eyes not my own, giving up my flesh, being in communion with the Holy Spirit, and listening and doing whatever He calls me to do.
•Shining my light and not keeping what I have to myself. God shows me things when I spend time with Him and read and pray so share that with other people and disciple people.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
•The importance of being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. This has come up a lot in my life, and I’ve realized it’s really an issue with pride. God, destroy my pride, help me to love.
“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”James 1:19-20
•Love. I can’t even explain how important love is. Love fulfills the law. Love God, love people, that’s what I want to do in my life. 1 Corinthians chapter 13
“Let all that you do be done with love.”
1 Corinthians 16:14
•How incredibly important it is to tame the tongue. Every word I say either sows life or death, and the power of the tongue is so underestimated.
James 3:1-12
•To be content in all circumstances! Life is such a gift, every hour, minute, and second. Be joyful and find the good in every situation, God always has something for you.
“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am in to be content.” Philippians 4:11
•To never put the great commission above the great commandment. If you’re not loving the Lord well with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength, then you can’t go out and make disciples of all nations as well.
Matthew 22:36-40, Matthew 28:19-20
•To thank God so much for every single meal and take time to give thanks before you eat. Whatever it may look like, just give some time to God before you get physically nourished, because being spiritually nourished is incredibly more important. Also, when fasting don’t think about the best or easiest days to do it, fast exactly when God tells you to fast, He knows what He’s talking about.
•To start living by God’s grace more. I’ve realized on this trip I tend to focus more on things I can to do be closer to God, when I should focus way more on God and what He does and the abundant grace He gives me. Ephesians 2:8
Those are some serious things I’ve learned, here are some other things:
•I can’t speak Spanish as well as I thought I could
•I am not a good surfing instructor
•Costa Rican kids are ruthless
•German airport security is lockdown
•I’m not as good at rapping as I thought I was
•You can’t fool everyone with your magic tricks
•Bungy jumping is insane
•Cheetas will slap you in the face if they think you’re a fly
•Old ladies will also slap you in the face if they don’t like you
•Brass knuckles will get you detained
•You can skin a water buffalo with a spoon
•It’s okay if ten white guys crash two weddings in one day
•They never run out of rice in Asia
•When ten Americans shower in their underwear in a river people take pictures
•You can indeed pee in a pringles can in a public bus and fill the whole thing up
•Some time you have to play charades to order food in Myanmar
•Living with 9 guys for 9 months is one of the best, most smelly, unorganized thing ever. I’m going to miss them
We’re at final debrief right now in Chiang Mai, and then we bus down to Bangkok on Saturday to fly out from there. We have a layover in Tokyo for a couple hours and then fly to Cali!! I fly into Detroit at night on the 3rd, so for all of you that are missing me so much, you don’t have to wait too much longer;)
One last thank you so much to everyone who made it possible for me to be on this trip and for all your support, love you all so much.
