These new posts are all from when I was in South Asia, so the Sperling is a little odd. But I’m just catching everyone up!
I have been on the field, in the World Race, for four months. From September to December, I have been away from my family, my friends, and everything else familiar that I have ever known.
In these past months, I didn’t mind. There was so much newness happening all around me. Of course I miss my family, but I understood that that’s part of the point of the Race: to learn about life in the unknown. And I was in Thailand and Malaysia, surrounded by new ministry and opportunities for fun and fellowship! How can I miss *sushi* from back home in the States?
But a feeling has been slowly and steadily creeping up on me this past month and even now: dissatisfaction. And dissatisfaction leads to ungratefulness, which leads to complaining and anger and entitlement. All things that are definitely NOT of Abba.
I know that part of it is because as we’ve been traveling through countries, our living arrangements have been declining in quality. Our hostel in Thailand and Malaysia was “bougie” as Heather said. Water was clear, the food was store-bought and safe, there were alternative places to get WiFi, we could go to a laundromat about ten minutes away.
Then. Then we get to South Asia. I don’t have any pictures on my blogs because it’s risky to show any evidence of where we are, on the Internet where the South Asian environment could see. They’re pro-Hindu, and we aren’t missionaries here. We’re tourists, here to see the sights and do volunteer work. That’s why I can’t say where we are in South Asia either.
Anywho. The first place we stayed here was dusty, to say the least. We had to hand wash our clothing for the first time. The food is bland in flavor (I was raised with plenty of salt and sugar added to my food. As anyone from my squad can tell you, I wish I had salt and sugar), and there aren’t any “proper” stores like in Thailand.
A week ago, we moved to another state in South Asia. Here, we’re staying at a school, and it’s only gotten ‘worse’. We have only one water tank, for 45+ people. It’s used for showering, washing hands, flushing the toilet, hand washing laundry, and drinking water. In the other place, we had three. This means that the water has usually run out by the afternoon. There is one water spout to fill up our water in the building, and sometimes the water is cloudy. Other times it’s straight up yellow.
To abide by the culture, we girls have to wear long sleeves while in the villages, so I am sweating a TON. We’re sandwiched right between a Hindi village and Muslim village. In the Muslim mosque, there’s a call for prayer five times a day. One of the times is at 5AM. And *everybody* can hear it.
The food is still bland in flavor. It’s even more dusty here – I hate getting my feet dirty, so I am permanently wearing socks.
For me specifically, there’s a bunch ton of mosquitoes. And guess which girl didn’t pack malaria medication, DEET spray, a mosquito net, or a tent AND is constantly getting bit? This one!
My favorite food places constantly pop up in my head. My favorite places in my house. Memories of my friends. The Big C supermarket in Thailand. Subway in Malaysia.
In the past week, everything has just been going downhill, including my thoughts.
And then Abba placed the exact right person to convey His thoughts to me. One of my amazing squadmates, Noelle, had asked Abba for a verse for each of us on Team Sonrisa and Team Ahava.
Mine was the story of Hagar. As I read her note, my heart jumped at the words “…was sent away from all she knew.” I reread the story of Hagar and everything became clear.
In this life, as a human, I always have a choice. I always have the choice of looking for the good, or looking for the bad. I also always have the choice to choose joy, or choose dissatisfaction. Sometimes, the good is more evident and joy is easier to procure. Other times, the bad is easier to find and complaining comes easily. What makes a difference for me, and for every other person who follows Christ, is that we’re called to choose joy.
*”Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything.” ~James 1:2-4 NIV*
This is Paul writing. Paul, who was punished in ever way feasible: imprisoned, flogged, beaten, pelted with stones, shipwrecked! He faced danger everywhere he turned, all for preaching the Good News of Christ. (Check out Acts 14, 16, 18-19, 21, 27 and 2 Corinthians 11 for more on these!)
Yet Paul never wavered. He never gave up. He never stopped talking about the Good News of Jesus Christ.
I shouldn’t let my living situation determine my mood. I *can’t* let it determine my mood. Through this dissatisfaction, I think Abba is leading me through my new favorite verse.
“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” ~Philippians 4:11-13 NIV
It feels a m a z i n g when I shower after five straight days. Being in between a Hindu and Muslim village means we can easily share the Good News with some of the people who most need it. When the Muslim call to prayer sounds, it reminds me to pray for the people who are bound to prayer by that call. Noelle gave me her malaria medication! Conversation flows more easily without WiFi.
Every little thing is precious when I let go of my dissatisfaction.
Until next time!
Presenting my frustration before Abba,
Cheyenne
