This month I’m reminded about how much the Lord loves us and prepares us for each season, month, week, and day in our life. Never did I think that three summers ago when I was working at a summer camp living in a teepee with 7-8year olds that it was preparing me for living conditions on the world race. For two summers I lived in a teepee that had cement floors and bunk beds, and usually once a week we found a mouse who had decided our home was a good place for them to come in and have babies. This was not my favorite part but by summer two it became not a huge deal. I learned to pray over my bed and to trust that the lord would keep me safe. However while living in those conditions never did I think I’m going to go on a mission trip and live where ever my contact decides to put me for the month.
God has a way of giving us what we can handle for the moment and preparing us for what he will give us in the future. The lord has steadily decreased my comforts while being on the race these first 3 months. Month 1 we lived in a nice home with plenty of space and our own nice beds, month 2 I lived in a two room house with another family and 6 girls. This month I live in the upstairs of a hut that is pretty much open. We have a dirt floor and our home is made out of bamboo and paper. Within the first hour of being in our room I had to kill a bug for one of my teammates just like I did for my campers. We also had a rat grace us with his presence the first night in our home. I’m sleeping under a bug net with a teammate and enjoying going to bed at 8pm because it’s dark and we have no electricity, oh and we have to be at tea time by 7:30am. It’s really like an intense longer stay at camp.
I’m in love with the way that God prepares us for things in life and gives us exactly what we can handle for that day. If God would have called me onto the mission field three years ago I’m not sure that I would have been able to handle it. I would have been even more homesick then I am and would not be ready for the living or eating conditions. With God giving me the strength and preparing me for each day, I was able to make it through Romania and fall in love with the beauty that was there. I was able to make it through the bitter cold of Moldova and find comfort in a big group of people. Now I’m in love with everything that is Nepal and I’m able to look beyond the living conditions and actually believe that this is my home for the month.
Knowing that the Lord has me exactly where he wants me and has prepared me for what he is going to give me today makes it that much easier to start a day. He gives me tiny blessings each day to help brighten my mood or just give me something extra to be in love with that day. When we walk for two hours and I feel like I can’t take another step because I’m hot and tired the Lord gives me something special like a river to wade through. After being out for ministry for a couple hours without eating and wondering when we are going to eat again God provides us with the son of our contact bringing us noodles and tea on a bike.
God is definitely showing me that he provides in every way and to trust in him with all things. These last two weeks at our ministry site we have had no internet access. My support account was still lacking about $2,000 that need to be there by Dec. 1st. I will not have internet from Nov.15th until Dec. 2nd I know this is just another way that the Lord wants to show me he is going to provide for me and I can’t wait to see how he does it. Our God is faithful and loves to provide for his children. Expect a blog about how God met my financial deadline.
