If I’m being honest, I don’t want to write this blog.. I’m now in Cambodia and have finished out my time in Ecuador. I think that I am so happy to be out of that country, and I’m just ignoring everything that happened in it. It wasn’t the best. It wasn’t this amazing time in my life like South Africa was. Honestly, it was mundane and boring for me. Yes, there were important lessons that God taught me through my time in Ecuador, but the environment itself just wasn’t good for me mentally. I lived in a city, a big, smelly, grey, polluted, rude city that was harsh and unwelcoming. I didn’t feel at home or loved by anyone there except my hosts. And maybe it was the enemy using all of these things to distract me because I wasn’t spending time in the word or with God. I slept, I watched Netflix, I ate, I did everything else besides grow in my faith. My life in Ecuador was an awful routine of mindless activities and emptiness. But sometimes we go through seasons in life that are like this. And that’s ok.
So instead of going through and writing about everything that happened during my last month in Ecuador, I’m going to write about everything that I am looking forward to for my last 3 months:
I’m looking forward to spending intentional time with my teammates and my squad before we separate into our normal lives in June. I’m looking forward to reading the word with an excited spirit. I’m expecting a completely different perspective for Cambodia and I’m excited to see what God will do in my heart during my time there. I’m looking forward to embracing every moment of my last 3 months on the field and cherishing it as if it were priceless. I’m wanting God to move in Cambodia so that these people may come to know him and his love for them. I’m looking forward to cheap coffee and yummy Asian food. I’m looking forward to spending time in a smaller group of people and to be focusing on intentional relationships with them (our squad is splitting up across the country by teams). I’m excited to bask in the summer heat and laugh about how ridiculously hot it is. I’m excited to tell God “I don’t care about how hot it is, because nothing else matters when you are here”. I’m excited to step into a whole new culture, I’ve never been to Asia before. I’m looking forward to allowing God to prepare me for re-entering the States in June.
So this probably wasn’t what you expected, but honesty with my supporters is important. It’s ok that I didn’t have a good time in Ecuador. And just because I felt this way, doesn’t mean that the Lord didn’t move tremendously. I will say this: My parents did attend Parent Vision Trip, and God allowed us to spend important time together that grew our relationship so much. I’m really thankful that my parents had the opportunity to come and see what Jesus is doing through my time on the field. I was able to share a lot of my heart with them and it was a very fruitful week. Mom and Dad if you are reading this, I love you and your visit was one of the good things about Ecuador that I enjoyed so much.
Thank you guys for your continued support, even through the hard months. I’m looking forward to soon share about Cambodia, and my last 3 months on the race!
