If I said I wasn’t nervous about beginning this trip I would definitely be lying. Here I was getting ready to leave not only everyone I know but EVERYTHING I know. At training camp instead of sleeping in a bed we slept outside…in a tent…in the rain. Then instead of eating my normal diet, which usually includes Chipotle at least once a week, we had small portions of international food such as cornmeal and ground beef. On top of that the showers were cold hose water, which made it impossible to get all the shampoo out. I know that it sounds like I am complaining a lot but the point is coming…
One of the first sessions we had at training camp was about how God lowered Himself to human form when He sent Jesus to this earth. Jesus associated with the prostitutes and the homeless, which were socially considered the lowest people in society. Jesus became a servant to show the world how to live, when honestly He didn’t have to. So this talk really got me thinking…HOW DARE I? Seriously how dare I complain about not having the “perfect accommodations” or the food that I was use to. Jesus lived a life of suffering because He loves us. If that isn’t love then I don’t know what is. I realized my complaints were basically like spitting in His face. I don’t deserve anything and just because I follow Jesus does not mean everything is going to be easy. God is already humbling me and I am beginning to appreciate everything I have. Now I can’t promise that I won’t complain anymore because we all know it’s not good to make promises you can’t keep. However, I can say I have faith that God is going to open my eyes this summer and continue to teach me that as long as I have Him nothing else matters. God has consistently been breaking me down and building me back up daily and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Another thing the speaker said that really spoke to me was that God doesn’t care about our comfort as much as He does our character. It’s during those uncomfortable times we grow and become more like the person God wants us to be. I can confidently say that after this trip I will never be the same.
Until the next time I have internet…
In Him,
Elizabeth
