I am tired.
That is how I have felt for the last month.
Tired in every sense of the word: physically, emotionally, spiritually.
Its already 2010 and this marks the end of the 8th month of the trip. Moving to a new location every 3 weeks has made me tired. Just giving spiritually has made me tired. Not being around home and family during the holidays adds to the sense of tiredness as well.
Battling against this tiredness; choosing not to quit, but to press on has been a continuous battle.
Fortunately, I am not asked to complete this mission on my own strength.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” 2 Cor. 12:9
In saying these words Jesus knows that our strength is not enough, that we will grow tired and weary and that is ok. He is strong enough to provide the rest and strength that we so desperately need.
So much of what I have been trying to do is find rest in the Lord. Look to Him for strength and comfort, knowing my strength has been sapped.
Now that I’m in comfy South Africa, I can see that most of the tiredness I felt in Malawi was spiritual, emotional, and just general tiredness from being on the race. A different level of tiredness hit during our second stay in Mozambique: physical tiredness. Being the toughest living conditions of the race, the entire squad-20 of us sleeping on the concrete floors of Mamarita’s house (while she and her kids slept outside, sometimes we slept outside too). But while at Mamaritas’s the most unusual thing happened. I physically felt more tired but spiritually I felt like God was renewing my strength through ways other than His word…good conversations and just the embrace of a loving African woman. Trusting more and more for God to take care of me.
Just yesterday the entire squad was rearranged. There are four completely new teams, and for me its my third team of the race. I started the race with Azariah and we were a team for 3 months. From month four until yesterday I was on team illumoonations, and now I’m on a completely new team. I have mixed emotions as I will miss my old team but am confident in God’s plan and purpose for me on this new team. I feel like I’m starting over again, getting to know my teammates and doing ministry and life together as a team. Another way God is challenging me to trust Him in taking care of me
