The more you know & experience, the more you realize just
how much you don’t know! Life is a big jungle gym classroom & we
are all students, learning. At least we hope to learn, in order to
grow. This World Race has been a constant learning process: new
countries, new languages, new foods, new currencies,new cultures, new
challenges, new houses/tents/homes, new smells, new noises, new sights,
new time zones, new people, new heart aches, etc etc & it goes on
& on.I’ve just been one big sponge, soaking as much up as i can. I truly have learned something from everyone i have met, in every country. Here’s a list of 40 things i have learned in just the 8
months i have been backpacking & serving around the world:
how much you don’t know! Life is a big jungle gym classroom & we
are all students, learning. At least we hope to learn, in order to
grow. This World Race has been a constant learning process: new
countries, new languages, new foods, new currencies,new cultures, new
challenges, new houses/tents/homes, new smells, new noises, new sights,
new time zones, new people, new heart aches, etc etc & it goes on
& on.I’ve just been one big sponge, soaking as much up as i can. I truly have learned something from everyone i have met, in every country. Here’s a list of 40 things i have learned in just the 8
months i have been backpacking & serving around the world:
1.DYING to myself (it really is as painful as it sounds…sometimes)
2.importance of humility
3.PATIENCE
4.what a servant looks like
5.FLEXIBILITY
6.how to laugh & make light of crazy, insane situations that are completely out of my control
7.the poor have more riches (more faith) than any wealthy person ive met
8.how selfish & prideful i can be
9.living in community is tough
10.living in community, in UNITY, is powerful in bringing
others to Christ (onlookers cant help but see God as the glue, sticking
us together in love)
others to Christ (onlookers cant help but see God as the glue, sticking
us together in love)
11.to boast only in Christ, giving Him all the credit, not me
12.GRACE GRACE GRACE!!
13.forgiveness & not letting the sun go down on your anger
14.COMMUNICATION!
15.DISCIPLINE
16.HUNGER for God’s Word & sitting in His presence, actually Listening & not just talking
17.walking by FAITH, not by sight
18.give generously & cheerfully
19.love others how God loves them (unconditionally)
20.i don’t need to EARN God’s love
21.I AM LOVED BY HIM!!!!!
22.it can be easier at times to believe the LIES of Satan rather than believe the TRUTH of God
23.DON’T GIVE UP! PERSEVERE
24.importance & power of prayer & praying in faith & expectancy
25.BOLDNESS!
26.care less about what others think & more about what God thinks
27.how much my IDENTITY was wrapped up in my friends & family, & not in WHO God made me
28.SUBMISSION
29.hear His voice & OBEY
30.TEAM WORK
31.what unity looks like
32.I REALLY DON’T NEED MUCH TO LIVE OFF OF
33.how ungrateful i can be
34.be CONTENT in ALL circumstances *even 70 hr bus rides in Africa w/no AC, & 65 people stacked together like sardines*
35.how to adapt/live in almost ANY location or situation or environment
36.how to tune people out *ok, maybe that’s not a always a
good thing to learn, but its how i coped sometimes around so many
people, 24/7-since im like the only one out of 64 people that doesnt
own an iphone or ipod w/ear plugs*
good thing to learn, but its how i coped sometimes around so many
people, 24/7-since im like the only one out of 64 people that doesnt
own an iphone or ipod w/ear plugs*
37.did i mention PATIENCE??!!
38.how to SHARE. seems so elementary but adults suck at it.
we always teach kids how to share but we really are the more selfish
ones.
we always teach kids how to share but we really are the more selfish
ones.
39.DEPENDENCE on God
40.FACE YOUR FEARS!!!! i demonstrated facing my fears by
jumping off a 70+ foot rocky waterfall last week! it was scariest thing
i have ever done, my life literally flashed before me -before &
during the jump-but thankfully i survived it & lived to show you
these photos:
jumping off a 70+ foot rocky waterfall last week! it was scariest thing
i have ever done, my life literally flashed before me -before &
during the jump-but thankfully i survived it & lived to show you
these photos:
Quick update on my teen house i’ve been living in/serving in daily: i fall more in love with these 8 teens everyday. It has been rough having to be the guardian to these 8 teens. I have been learning the delicate balancing acts of parenthood: being firm with discipline,structure, & consistency but also learning how to be gentle, kind, loving & show grace at the same time. If these hard lessons, i have emailed my parents serveral times, asking them for forgiveness for all my years of being a teenager/early twenties & the hurt i caused by my words & actions. Let me just list a few: slamming doors, silent treatments, talking back, selfish attitudes,etc.They really hurt, & ive been through that these 2 weeks, day in & day out. But on the positive side, they have been opening up to me about their painful past & have been placing more trust in me & connecting more with me.I try to remember to place myself in their shoes & remember what it was like to be a teen. I also have a new found respect for my parents! haha I even cried one day just thinking about leaving March 5th. These teens have my heart & i am so blessed to be living/learning with them this month.Every morning & evening we have devotions together, pray together, & share about our days.I’m learning somedays they just wont like me. haha. Especially when i have to enforce rules ro catch them lying. Last week was very rough, as the teens were testing us alot. At the end of the week, we threw a party for them, despite their behaviors & rebellion. We called it “Grace Night” & decorated the room for them & gave them letters that said how much we love them. They asked us what grace meant & we were able to not only share verses with them & explain it, but most importantly, SHOW IT with our actions. We all need GRACE!
They all memorized this verse together: John 1:16 “Out of the fullness of His grace he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another.”
Love you all! Thanks for your prayers & support! May you feel His grace & love today, more than ever before! I have been presented with several ministry options after the World Race in America & overseas, so please join in prayer with me as i carefully seek God’s wisdom & guidance in where He wants me. I don’t want to take a step in any direction unless He leads me!
His Servant,
Michelle Smith
