Being an overseas missionary is not easy. Living with 50+ people is even harder. The past week I reached my peak with dealing with everyone and everything in Draganesti (the small town I’m staying at). The dirt, heat, sickness, noise, sarcasm, chores, teasing, flirting, hairs, mozzie bites, unhelpfulness, disrespectfulness and being the token Aussie; I was over it.
I grumbled. I complained. I whinged and gossiped. I did everything you were told you shouldn’t be doing and God heard it all. It had only been three weeks and I was already questioning my reason for being here. I felt like an Israelite and I hated it.
I needed…refreshment…but what did it look like?
A puppet show was being performed in our town the next day. I was told there was going to be an Australian there and I was SUPER pumped to be able to meet someone that would understand me. I also had been missing home for the first time in 6 months so talking with someone from Oz would be SO refreshing. Unfortunately, I found out I needed to head to Bucharest (the capital city which was 2 hours from Draganesti) to get my Moldovian VISA the next day. This meant I would miss meeting him.
So much for refreshment.
When we arrived in Bucharest, my squad mate and I found that we needed to stay an extra day for our VISA to be processed. This was not the original plan. Little did I know that the next two days would be a complete blessing in disguise. As we checked into our hostel, I happened to meet a girl from Melbourne, my home town! What are the chances? We also got to tour a park in the evening and had some time to relax and enjoy the city. The next day, we were able to join a ‘free walking tour’ of the old town. Not only did I meet some more Melbournians, but my actual friend from Uni happened to be there on the same day!
What a breath of fresh air!
Matthew 6:8b says, “…for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” I thought I only needed one Australian but God provided me with four. He also knew how much I adored touring different countries and He gave me time to do just that. This was my refreshment and he gave it to me abundantly.
Jesus knows me and He loves me. I’m excited to be challenged more over the next ten months and see Him show His presence in my life. How are you feeling at the moment? Dull? Unchallenged? Over everything? If you need God to refresh your life, be encouraged, because your Father in heaven knows what you need before you ask him.
