“Your ministry is a 24 hour bus ride away from the rest of the squad”
My Team Leader Abbey shared this with me at our mid-point debrief in Chiang Mai, and at first I was a little disappointed.
After my team spent the previous month the furthest away from the whole squad, I was disheartened to hear we would again be so great in distance from the rest of our friends.
Also, I really really don’t like bus rides.
I spent my quiet time over the course of the next few days accepting the fact that we would be in the middle of nowhere, that I would rejoice through the hard times, and that freezing showers and fried rice would again be major parts of my day. I reminded myself that this is what I signed up for, this was the cost of being a disciple, and when the time came to travel to Myanmar, I was fully prepared and excited (though slightly weary) to take up residence at the top of a distant mountain.
When we arrived at the “bus station” (a random shack) after 20 hours in the bus (nine of those hours spent on terrifying switchbacks up this mountain), we waited in the 30 degree weather (quite a change from four months of summer) for our host to pick us up.
I had very little idea of what to expect for our living situation, but as soon as we entered the Junction Guest House, my view of the next three weeks completely changed.
My team and I walked up the steps, 60 L packs in hand, to one of the best gifts on the race so far. We discovered beds(!!!) (with mattresses!!) (and blankets!!), four different rooms, heated water for our bucket showers, *real* toilets, and sinks with water. I don’t think I’d ever been so excited since the race began.
Soon after this, one of the women at our guest house, Lahn, brought us to a restaurant down the street. They hosted us with hot chocolate, coffee, and some western food, which was a blessing. Our ministry is only a few hours a day at a school, which allows us to use our free time to do extra quiet time and devos.
One of the coolest parts occurred when Alexis and I went out to find a place to exercise. We walked about a quarter mile and found an entire grass field and track with stairs as well.
By the time we’d experienced our guest house, ministry site, restaurant (we eat all our meals there), and running space, one thing was clear: The Lord was extremely intentional in placing my team here. After a month in Ban Doi, truly roughing it out in a village, it was evident He gave us this month to rest in more ways than one.
“Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.”
Psalm 37: 3-6
The Lord revealed the theme of rest even further to me this week. At debrief during a squad-wide worship session, each person picked a name of a squad mate at random, and Kacie (our squad mentor) chose me. She gave me the phrase “trust the process”, and while I was unsure of the meaning at the time, the Lord eventually revealed where it was relevant in my life.
During my time in Thailand, I found myself comparing my own gifts to those of influencers, leaders, and friends in my life. I looked at their incredible gifts and traits and wished I had them myself. I was hoping to be “there” and couldn’t find enough inner weaknesses to “work on”, while at the same time I didn’t even know where to begin.
This phrase, “trust the process”, grounded me in my thinking and helped me realize I need to take this day by day. I reflected on all my growth since day one of the race (which is a lot), and decided these next two weeks would be filled with rest and gratitude for all the Lord has done in me. This in itself is a kind of growth.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
The next two weeks will be spent trusting the Lord’s process in me, and fully taking in the true gift here in Hakha, Myanmar.
Oh, and on top of it, 95% of Hakha is Christian.
All glory to God
MG
