“We who are strong have an obligation to bear the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up… May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Jesus Christ, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:1-2 & 5-6
As some of you know and some of you may not know I have been pretty sick most of this month. There was a solid two weeks where I had to skip ministry to sleep, go to numerous hospital and doctor’s visits, or get wifi to try and communicate with family, friends, and my doctor back at home to figure out what was going on. I felt exhausted, had a sore throat, a swollen and raw tongue, little red dots all over my body, headaches, fevers, sinus junk, and honestly, I just wanted to be at home and feel comfortable. I was missing the good doctors and medical care from the USA and my mom. There were many days where I slept more hours than I was awake, and that was really hard not only to be separated from ministry and feeling useless but also separated my team. One blessing (well I consider it one) is that my teammate, Stella, was just as sick as I was with different things, but we were at least trapped in the house together basically attached at the hip. We were either both going to get better together or not at all. And I can tell you that we are both pretty much better.
Being this sick for so long really 1. made me realize how much going to ministry, spreading the Word, sharing God’s love, seeing smiling faces, and just interacting with people filled me up spiritually, emotionally, and physically. The days I got to attend a church service or witness to the drug houses on the street were the days when I felt better in a wholistic manner. So much of me was missing when I couldn’t do what I had come on the race to do. 2. Being sick made me thankful for the medical care I have back at home with doctors who are so knowledgeable and kind. I know med school must be a hard process, but I must admit our doctors know what they are doing. Although, the second week I met a doctor from India, and he has been pretty amazing and seems to know what he is doing in helping me get better. 3. Being sick made me grateful for all the people at home who were endlessly researching every fresh symptom at my every beckoning text. My family, friends, and doctor were the ones really trying and praying hard to get me better. 4. Being sick made me realize how much I missed physical touch. My team wouldn’t hug me for fear of getting the dreaded spots. I couldn’t hug and kiss the cutest little boys that live at our house. I wasn’t allowed to go to ministry because I was probably contagious, so that mean’t not even a handshake for weeks. Since being far from home hugs are just about a must all the time. So these are just a few things I realized being sick, but I really didn’t want this blog to be about how tough, homesick, or challenging this month has been. I want the main thing to be about the encouragement I was still able to give and receive.
That’s where the scripture in Romans comes in… build each other up, those who are strong bear with the failings of the weak, live in such harmony with one another, together you may glorify Him with one voice. Although I couldn’t minister the way I wanted to this month by going to churches, doing home visits, working with the children in the neighborhood, or even helping wash extra dishes for our host family I got to find my own way to encourage others. This month I have spent hours writing and mailing over 20 postcards and letters to people back at home. I have found a new obsession with writing postcards because they look pretty and to get a random postcard from Africa would be pretty cool, well I think so at least. I get to pray over the postcard as I write it and just get to miss those important people a little bit extra for a split second. It’s a way I can write for others to read in the future and for them to know that they mean something to me. Yeah, postcards have been a therapy or addiction this month and I’m sure it will continue. So, if you do get a postcard or the church gets one I hope you feel encouraged.
Also, my team began this month by praying for each other and speaking truth into each other twice a week. We would have a name for the day and just ask the Lord, “what do You need them to know today?” This is not only encouraging to give but also to receive. It’s a little blurb from the Lord that sometimes you just need to hear from someone else. One day I got a word from my squad leader that helped give me peace about my future. I was trying to decide whether to reapply to the University of Georgia or just stick with Georgia Tech, but she reminded me that the Lord wants these anxieties and that every detail and aspect of my life is in His care. She didn’t know about the decision I was struggling to make, but God knew. Another time I received a sweet poem of the Lord’s deep love for me, which came in super handy the next day visiting the drug house. These little encouragements have helped fill me up even when that was the only thing I had strength to do that day.
Lastly, I read The Circle Maker this month when I wasn’t asleep. If you have not read it then I can assure you it will change your prayer life for sure. It talks about praying hard, dreaming big, praying through, and circling your giants and Jerichos or even just people in your life. Praying circles around people, my future, problems, etc. has been a way for me to encourage others, but they really won’t even know that. I can lift them up to the Lord and trust that He hears them. When He does answer them that will be fulfillment and who knows that moment may be when that person gets to receive the encouragement. I still have so much to learn about prayer and figuring out what or who I want to circle, but this month has given me a starting point.
So yeah, I guess this month has been the most difficult of the race so far, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t grow or learn anything or impact anyone. It just meant I had to battle some things that were inconvenient and uncommon. It meant I got to pour into the words I wrote or the prayers I prayed. It meant my body got to rest which was actually a good thing, because most of you know I am a very go-go-go/do-do-do type of person. It meant I got to accept prayers from all of my friends and family on the race and back home. It just gave me a little more time to think, and that’s not a bad thing.
But if you’d like to know, Christmas and Christmas Eve were actually really fun. We hosted the children for dinner, danced and played games all afternoon, watched The Polar Express, popcorn, shot fireworks, and drank sparkling grape juice. On Christmas we went to the Zebra Hotel (that’s what my family calls it), a resort where we could use wifi and swim for the day. I got to talk to my family and be there when they opened presents. I got to swim and eat some pretty good food. We also got to do secret Santa which was so fun! The best part though was the video that I received from my sister and boyfriend, which was a compilation of all my family and friends saying Merry Christmas. I’m not going to lie, I was crying my eyes out while watching it. It was just way too beautiful and unexpected. It was hard being away from home this Christmas, but the people around me at the YWAM base, my teammates, and my people at home made it such a special one.
So, Happy New Years and Merry Christmas. Lastly, I want to challenge each of you to dive into prayer, your Bible, listening for His voice, worship, or anything else the first 20-30 minutes of your day for the month of January. If you have to wake up earlier DO IT, and if you want to continue it after January DO IT. It will be such a sweet time to start off this new year and who knows what the Lord has in store for you. I will be doing it right along with you. Start off your day seeking Him first and just see how encouraged you will be. Anyway, I love you all and thank you for the endless prayers over this month!
