When I envisioned myself on the Race, I thought I would be living in little shacks, in the middle of nowhere, all over the world. But as it turns out, the Lord has blessed me greatly and I have been fairly comfortable during this season. I haven’t been sick, I haven’t been hungry, and I have always had a nice bathroom to call my own. Until this month…
I arrived here in Cambodia about 5 days ago. After one night of staying in a hotel, my team and I were off to our ministry site. I had heard that our living conditions would be primitive, but I didn’t know how much so. This month, I am sleeping on the floor (no sleeping pad because mine has a whole in it), have no air conditioning in over 100 degree weather, and have to walk down the road to get to a bathroom. The bathroom is a bamboo room with a squatty potty and a big water basin for flushing and bathing. So as you can imagine, this would be the worst place to get sick… And therefore I did.
Yesterday, I sat in the front yard of our house sweating profusely, feeling the rumblings in my stomach, and surrounded by my sickness (due to the fact that I wasn’t able to make it to the bathroom). I began crying, not because of how miserable I was, but because of how good God was, no matter my circumstance.
On the Race, I have learned that God is not defined by my health, my happiness, or my comfort. I don’t love Him because He gives me good things, or keeps me from being sick. He is good because He is God. I love Him just as much when I am healthy, as I do whenever I am having diarrhea and throwing up in the front yard of my house in Cambodia. God is faithful no matter where I am or how I feel.
Later that day, my team encouraged me to go to the city so that I could get better in an air conditioned room. I sit here now, over 24 hours later, feeling almost 100 percent better. I know that there was something really wrong with me, and I know that God healed me.
As I sat sick in the beating sun, I said to myself, “There’s still no place I’d rather be than here, because here is where you want me”. Even when it can appear as though God has forgotten us, He hasn’t. He never does. He is ALWAYS faithful. I will praise Him in the storm.
No matter where you are, how you feel, or what is going on in your life, praise Him. Giving praise to the perfect God of the universe for who He is, is the way to survive your trials. Don’t be fooled into thinking that He has forgotten you, doesn’t care, or is punishing you. Know that He loves you and is worthy of your praise, no matter where you find yourself. And remember, He doesn’t owe you anything.
Grace, peace and health to you all,
Kaitlyn
Side note: I won’t have internet this whole month. I only have it now because I came into the city. So, there won’t be any more blogs till the end. But you should know that I am teaching English this month an evangelizing to the community. The ministry is great and the children are precious!
