Here’s what’s been up the last two weeks. My squad mate Hudson, the lumberjack, and I have been in Kazakstan. We have been in a country that mainly speaks Russian or kazakstanian. We have been in hostels that are probably the worst I’ve been in. 10 bedrooms. Lots of people. Lots of stuffiness. Dirty and to be honest the people here are just rude. Not rude in their eyes but rude in mine. When I say that here’s some examples. The first hostel. Just loud loud loud. The roommates come in around 1 or 2 am and have full on conversations with each other. The bathrooms are gross. Not because they aren’t cleaned but because people are just not taking care of them. We moved hostels. Where we are now there is an entire group from somaliland. They have a different culture and they are students living here. They are loud. Once again we have roommates who come in at 1 or 2 and turn on the lights and talk. Our other roommates from India were on a lay over and got up around four and turned the lights on for a solid hour before leaving. The doors always left open. There is more noise than I can bear. To cook a meal there is a two hour line. To be honest I’m just really tired of being in hostels with so many people whose cultures are so different. And while this has all been happening I’ve been letting the attacks get to me. I have had little patience. It’s almost like my time in Vietnam. Looking at these people as the enemy instead of what they truly are, my brothers and sisters, Gods kids. Not just his kids but his treasure. Literally the reason he created me in this moment is to love them because he created them to be loved. In this I’m brought back to
Ephesians 6 “for our struggle is not against flesh and blood”.
While all the above may sound like complaints they aren’t anymore.They were the complaints I have had and been sour about. But God smacked me a little bit. Sometimes we need a love tap.
“Consider it pure joy brothers”.
I just keep thinking about my struggles and how minuscule they are. They are valid and man do I long for my bed and my closet and privacy but that’s the thing. Paul and the early church had very little of that. Honestly, Paul lived in prisons and I’m on this cushy bed with WiFi and foot and water but we aren’t called to a life of comfort but to follow Jesus to the cross. And right now this is my cross. Instead of being down on the overload of attacks spiritually and physically I am choosing to focus on the truth. These are Gods children. No better than myself.
Philippians 2:3 “…but in humility consider other BETTER than yourself”
Well that sounds about as backwards as I can think right now. But I’ll take it. And I’ll choose to fight and push into the uncomfortable and truly ask God to change my heart. To see these people as better than myself. Because of my flesh that’s not what I have been choosing to see. And I have had some awesome talks but by myself the talks haven’t been good. I have been angry.
But here’s the truth. Hudson and I get to meet people we would never meet back home or in a hotel room.
This is literally the ministry.
How incredible is it that we are surrounded by a group of people from Somaliland that don’t know who Jesus is. Or that the Indians on their layover didn’t know the term missionary, not my favorite term but it is easiest to explain unless you are the kaz government then I’m just a dude out here sharing about another dude ;), and we got to share with them about Jesus. What about my homie, Victor, the maintenance man who doesn’t speak English but will talk to me for an hour because we both like Chelsea even though I don’t catch a word. He’s so happy just to be seen.
Here’s some truth I got smacked in the head with. This hostel that I am a guest in is actually these peoples homes. They have been here for 8 months and will be living here until they graduate because they don’t have a nice, modern home where they can go pull away. Their government doesn’t even want them here. Talk about being persecuted when you aren’t even a believer. This is it. This is their home and their life. And to be honest, I’m just a guest. And I’m grateful for it. I wasn’t. But I am now.
Side note just now as I’m sitting here typing this my buddy from Somaliland just brought me a plate of potatoes and goat liver, and to be honest it’s fire. Lol God cracks me up man.
Sometimes I act like a little baby and I feel unworthy of this life I’m living. But man I am grateful. And I’ll be out here in it. If you are praying for me continue to pray for these obstacles because I want to grow. I don’t want to be comfy. I want to grow in humility and patience and you don’t get that having all of your needs and wants met. You get it through the trials and hardship. So pray for strength and for eyes and a heart to see and love these people. Let’s win this one for the king.
I love y’all. God is too good and maybe a perspective change is all that’s needed. I challenge you in whatever you are walking through to see it as an opportunity to grow. That’s really all it is. And it doesn’t stop. Life’s hard, might as well grow a little instead of bathing in pity and bitterness.
