We have officially been gone for 33 weeks which is a total of 231 days. There are 8 days of ministry left until we are headed to debrief and after that, back to the good ol’ U.S of A. It’s a very bittersweet time and I have many different emotions as the end is looming over us. These past 9 months have been full of lessons and learning so I thought I would highlight just a few of the many things I have learned and will continue to learn and re-learn:
- I learned what it truly means to serve and love like Jesus did.
- I learned what community is and how it looks: putting others above yourself, being willing to be open and vulnerable, its constantly giving even if you get nothing in return, allowing yourself to lean on other people for help and allowing them to speak into you whether it’s something you have been doing well or need to work on.
- Every single moment of every day is a choice. We choose what our attitude is going to be, how we respond to a situation, we choose to be loving or be selfish. Everything is a choice.
- Love DOES and it’s a choice. Love isn’t just feelings. If love were just feelings that would be quite the rollercoaster. Love is choosing to put others above yourself even when you don’t feel like it, it’s going the extra mile, it’s giving someone your last bite of chocolate even though it’s your favorite, and it’s a constant decision. Deciding to serve and love even when you don’t “feel” like it.
- I learned that people overseas are more accepting of Jesus and their need for him, but why? Because in order to fully accept and follow Jesus, all we need is need; we’ve got to need him and be willing to accept that. In 1st world countries we have a lot, and it’s really hard to be needy when we have a lot. Money may not be our idle, but it fuels them. Jesus says; people who come to me with dependence get into heaven.
- Being in relationship with God doesn’t mean I have it all together, it doesn’t mean I have to do more things and do everything perfect to try and earn his love. It means that I am imperfect, I mess up, make mistakes and I am in need of him. It’s accepting his love and grace that he gives freely right where I am at. It means constantly going to him and admitting that I need him, its constant dependency on him and admitting my weaknesses.
- I’ve learned to not always be so quick to judge. People put on a good face, can act like they have it all together on the outside. However I have learned there is so much more going on inside a person than what they are willing to show on the outside. There have been many people that I have met during ministry or even on my squad where what you see is not always the whole/ real story. Everyone has their struggles, problems, and imperfections. So even when it’s hard to love someone or you’re not having the best day, just remember that there is someone struggling too and who knows, maybe the love you show that one person is the only love that person ever gets for that day or ever.
- Life is full of adventure! However it’s up to us to decide if we are going to fully engage in it.
- Don’t get caught in the comparison game. To quote Bob Goff, “We won’t be like Jesus if it’s more important to us to be like each other. God doesn’t compare what He creates.” When we start comparing ourselves with others we start to feel inadequate and not good enough. God created each and every person with unique gifts and talents that he wanted YOU to use. If we all had the same gifts and talents we would get nowhere. When each of us is fully embracing what God has gifted us to do it’s a beautiful thing and we are able to further his kingdom.
- Live in the moment, even when you don’t particularly “like” that moment. It feels like these 9 months have actually flown by. Although there were some days where it felt that the end would never come, here it is. There were days where I just wanted that day to be over, I would just think about home, or just wish the time away. However, looking back now I actually miss those times and they were not as bad as I made them out to be. So live in the moments you have; whether they’re amazing moments or difficult moments, because before you know it you will be looking back and wondering where the time went and wanting those moments back.
Although this may sound like the end, I know this is just the beginning. The beginning of applying what I have learned, continue to learn, and the beginning of living a life fully engaged, full of life, love, and a crazy adventure with the Big Man upstairs.
Shout out to all my supporters, whether it was praying, writing cards, sending messages, writing comments, or financially supporting me thank you SO much. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you guys and I wouldn’t be the same person. There is just something about knowing you have people back home who support and love you no matter what and that means the world to me, thank you, thank you, thank you! Can’t wait to see all of you! As our time here is coming to a close I would really appreciate if you kept us in your prayers; that we would finish strong and we would have smooth transition back into the States (or for those Canadians on our squad, back into Canada).
With MUCHO amor (had to pull out my Spanish there),
Kylie
