A lot has happened since my last update, so I will summarize some events and lessons over this last 1.5 months or so:
I turned 27! It was truly a day filled with joy and love, from people all over. I felt so cared for by my family here, and they had quite a feast for me! Birthdays aren't traditionally celebrated here, so it really touched me that the Soita's did so much for me. I was able to spend time reflecting on all the "gifts" I've received in this year of life, in the form of provision, challenges, experiences and opportunities, relationships and lessons. These are all things I couldn't have planned for, but am so grateful for. I have a good Father. My papa here, Pastor Sam, was challenging me about how we as people always celebrate our physical birth, but the spiritual one gets forgotten. It made me think-am I investing as much in my self spiritually as I am physically? Am I mature spiritually? Or am I starving myself? I'm grateful for people that make me think.
With M:MM, since my last update a highlight is that I have been able to practice facilitation of health lessons in the communities more, which I have loved! Along with the M:MM staff, I was able to put on three lessons about elevated blood pressure prevention and management, and screen community members' blood pressures. I genuinely loved holding the lessons, and watching those that attended grasp new knowledge, participate and have the drive to implement what they learned. I was recently asked if I thought I'd been impacting lives during my work here, and I can't speak for others, but I pray that I have. I have seen that it is more on a small scale, but that that is good and more impactful and personal. I think each of us wants to leave a mark somewhere, even if it is small. So I pray others have been blessed and changed. Then I was asked if i had been impacted, and my oh my. Yes. I think a lot of the ways I have changed may not show their face fully until I am back in the US, and confronted with things that I haven't been surrounded by for a year. I am so grateful for learning, and it is something that I want to take back with me (like I made a list of goals for the New Year, and HOW FUN would it be to learn guitar?! I've always wanted to, so why not?)
Homesickness was a very real thing in my life around the holidays, but I am thankful for the Lord's grace and those that surrounded me with love and showered me with hospitality. I have seen how rich I am in relationships, and can't express my gratitude enough. But, I missed my Minnesota Christmas and because of this homesickness I kept myself very busy surrounding the holidays, which caused me to be distant from my emotions and thoughts, until they spilled out in the back of the packed van at dark. But, the Lord is faithful and I was met with so much more joy than homesickness this festive season. On Christmas Eve morning as I was preparing for church, I blasted some Harry Conick Jr. Christmas music (shout out to my mom!) and one song struck me afresh: "The Little Drummer Boy." The boy is singing about how he is a poor boy, but he can play for the Savior. It made me think about how poor I am before the Lord, and how much I need Him. It made me wonder, what would I do if I was "the little drummer boy?" I know that I can approach the Lord every day because of His grace and work on the cross, but I wondered if tangibly I was in front of the Savior, what would I do? Cry? Laugh? Sing? Dance? Fall down? Run away? Then, I thought of another worship song that says, "but what could I say? Or what could I do? But offer this heart, oh God, completely to You?" And how in Isaiah 58 God talks about true fasting and what He wants from us. I was blown away in a new way how a tiny baby came into the world and changed everything, forever. What a precious, precious gift.
As I think about the New Year, a thought came to mind: it is good to be uncomfortable. We as people have a tendency to draw to what is safe and easy and even here I have done that, but I've seen so much good come from being uncomfortable. So as I prepare to go back to MN, I want to carry that with me into the New Year. I do not want any space for complacency in my life. But I will need God's grace.
Photos:
| Friends from Rwanda, where we swam, danced, went to hot springs, went on a boat ride and ate. It was a wonderful end and start to the year, and I am thankful to know these people. I never knew I would come to know them, but it's sweet to see how God brings people into your life. I don't really believe in "strangers" anymore, because you never know who could be your friend. |
| This is Sam, my papa here. I am so grateful for his wisdom and laughter in my life. |
| Happy Birthday to me! |
Praises:
-a New Year of life in the Lord
-A fun New Year's with dear friends in Rwanda
-the chance to stay until March when my church comes
Prayer Requests:
-grace and clarity as I prepare to leave in March
-Intentionality with those I love during the rest of my time here
-Trust in the Lord that He has a good plan for me
-Community members to be blessed by the trainings, and for faithfulness of us as staff to serve them well
