Sometimes its hard to come up with things to write blogs about. We've been in Mwanza, Tanzania for eight days, so we've settled in a bit. Nothing super eventful has happened, though. We went to the beach at Lake Victoria yesterday, which is only a few kilometers from our house here. Its really gorgeous, with lots of giant rocks around it.
Our ministry this month has been hut-to-hut. I've had a lot of great conversations with people, and played a lot of worship songs, but thts about it. Half of my team prayed for a woman who was manifesting a demon, but I wasn't there for it. She ended up accepting Christ, which was pretty amazing!
Honestly, months like this can be pretty discouraging.
Its not that our contacts haven't been great, because they have.
Its not that I don't love Tanzania, because I do.
Its not that the people here aren't wonderful. They really are! They have been so welcoming!
Its just been such a lax month. I really feel stagnant. I haven't had any big spiritual revelations like I have in months past. Maybe I haven't been digging deep enough. My Bible reading has me in Leviticus, so I'm learning all about sacrifices. Its all very interesting but can be very dry.
We are almost halfway through the Race. We are deep into it. This is where you have to hold fast to your goal, because if not, your mind goes other places.
Places like your best friend's wedding that you'll be missing next month.
Places like your plans after the Race.
Places like really missing your parents, who you've only Skyped with once in the last month.
Even places like missing where your best friends on the squad are, because you are so close to them, yet so far.
This is when you begin to realize that you are sacrificing almost a year of your life. Life in America doesn't wait for eleven months. My family will be celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas without me. For the first time in my life, my sister will be home for Christmas and I will not.
I left just after turning 21, and will turn 22 just after returning home. A lot happens in that span of time.
The honeymoon ended in Ireland, and now I've hit the seven year (or, in this case, 4.5 month) itch. I've hit the point where I oftentimes have to fight for joy, to fight to stay present. I've heard that months 4-7 of the Race are often the hardest, and so far, that has been true.
I really don't want to come across as complaining. I am completely satisfied with being in Tanzania right now, especially because its where God has called me to be. I rest confident in that. But sometimes, the World Race is just hard. And I don't want to talk about just the good times, the life-changing moments. Because in a year, you will have a handful of the life-changing ones, and countless difficult ones.
All that being said, I'm pressing on. I'm here for a reason, and I'm looking for what it is. If nothing else, I want to walk away from this month proud and confident that I gave it my all, because thats what I'm called to do.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.-Galatians 6:9
So as to not leave you thinking I'm having a terrible month, I'll share some of the blessings I have this month.
We are in a city, so I can get a nice coffee (for cheap!) once a week.
We have a TV at our house this month, so on our off time, I've gotten to enjoy American TV and British soccer!
My friend Danielle and I found a random pedicure booth in an alleyway. I now have beautiful, CLEAN(!) pink toe nails!
Our hosts this month are amazing cooks! I look forward to every meal.
The coffeeshop here also has delicious chocolate cake. Hey, its the small things!
AND I am blessed to be only a few hundred dollars away from being fully funded. 🙂
Thank you all for your continual support, love and prayers! They help more than you know!
