Freedom in Obedience

The longer I'm here, the more humbled I become. I'm humbled by the people who choose to share their stories with me. I'm humbled by the joy I see on children's faces regardless of their circumstances. I'm humbled by women like Rossy who have dedicated their lives to serving kids--who take pleasure in dancing to kids' worship songs and having marker-covered hands from craft time. I'm humbled by fellow staff members who have invited me into their families, fed me countless meals, and made me feel like I'm never alone here.

But more than the people who have surprised and taught me, God has amazed me. He is the one and only true redeemer. He can reconcile relationships where all hope is lost. He can heal the weak, lost, and impoverished. He gives love, purpose, and strength. While I cannot do any of those things, he has blessed me with the opportunity to watch and take part in this work with him. He has shared his presence with me and promises to never take it away and that is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard.

Through it all, he's teaching me obedience--when I don't have the skills or means or understanding or confidence or language ability. He's teaching me to do now what needs to be done, rather than putting it on my to do list for tomorrow; to ask questions and give encouragement and ask forgiveness in the moment rather than staying quiet. He's teaching me to give all that I have to where I'm at and the people I'm with, and he's showing me time and again how he provides.

I was asked to teach a Bible lesson and lead a craft for about 35 kids in Spanish today. Now I'm usually more of a small group co-leader than a big group teacher type so this didn't exactly fit into my personality description, not to mention language barrier apprehensions. So when I was asked, I thought "there are two options: say yes and get nervous because I can't do this or say yes with confidence that this is God's ministry which means that he's going to use it for good." Rationalization led me to obedience in my approach to teaching, not just my actions--something I am very much just beginning to learn.

Will I be the next big children's speaker? Not a chance. Does it matter? No. I did my best to serve God and the kids, and it was a blessing to be a part of it (although I do admit that a nap sounds really good right about now!) While obedience definitely isn't all rainbows and sunshine, I think I've found greater freedom to grow and find joy through obedience than I've ever found following after my own desires. It's kinda like my little cousin once told me "God is the super coolest!" :)

My Own Amazing Race

I packed my bags, drove to the airport, said a tearful goodbye to my family at the gate (which a fellow travelor told me was better than reality tv), and made it to my terminal with time to spare. It was all going according to plan, and I thought I was going to be the last flight out before the brunt of the winter storm came through and shut everything down. Then the delays started. Four hours later, they cancelled the flight, and I found myself sitting in the airport, phoneless, wondering what I was going to do until my rescheduled flight the next morning at 7am.

Thankfully, I had spent the last few hours getting to know some of the people sitting in the terminal around me. I was delighted to hear their stories and found us being fast (although temporary) friends. One of my new friends was named Steven. He is a Navy Seal in Norfolk and was kind enough to let me use his phone many times. After our flights had been rescheduled, we made our way to baggage claim together, had dinner at McDonalds (the only place still open), and began to work through what we were going to do about our stranded situation. After finding out that our flights had been postponed yet another day, I was determined to find a way to spend the next 40 hours somewhere besides the Indianapolis Airport.

I tried contacting shuttles, taxis, hotels, friends--everything was shut down, and the roads were horrible. I was about to give up when I remembered some Lighthouse teams were on their way down to stay at a hotel near the airport that night before their flight the next morning. In a last ditch effort, I called my sister who was able to connect me with the driver of the bus. In less than an hour my new friend Steven and I were on the road making our way back home. We dropped him off in Anderson, and I made it back to Upland after a 4 hour long bus trip that would normally have taken about an hour and a half.

I am SO thankful that this all worked out! Even through the snow when there seems to be so few options, God is there, and he provides :) While I wish I could already be in Mexico working with Back2Back Ministries, I know that I'll arrive in God's timing and am thankful that everyone who was going to be on that flight yesterday is safe. It's all a part of the adventure :)