I haven’t been doing a good job of keeping this blog up to date. Partially for two reasons, first, I don’t really think anyone is reading it and second, I really haven’t made it a priority. My husband is encouraging me to write in it more however. He said I should use it more as a journal because it’s a great way to look over and see this journey we are on with God and not think of anyone reading it. Well, here I go.
It’s been almost four months since I last posted. Many things have happened; we’ve had good times and bad times, many ups and downs. For details on what we've been up to you can get that from our other blog, Facebook or newsletters. I’m going to just keep it real about being a mom in this update.
It’s been rough! I went through a time when I felt very disheartened about being here. My love for the people and places faded away quickly but God restored this love and reminded me of His love for them and their need to know Him. I was reminded that even though some of the people here had hurt me and my family (my children) these people have a much greater hurt than I could ever have. They need Jesus, they need to know His love and God reminded me of this. Since this has taken place in my heart, there’s been a constant battle. Satan has been attacking our family like never before. Eph. 6:12 “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
It’s tough watching your children struggle although it’s a sweet reward watching them persevere and come out stronger and closer. We’ve come to get used to things like: having bugs in our food, walking through flood waters and getting completely wet; ordering something and getting something completely different; being invaded by ants and bugs; bug bites; lots of rain; sticky hot weather; power and water outages; noises everywhere; smells that we can’t describe, always ways having to be with someone, sicknesses of every kind; seeing the unexpected; isolotion, but all of this (and I could go on) said it doesn’t make it any easier that we are getting used to it. How do we stay encouraged and continue on in a place that is so very different from where we call home? We laugh, we smile and try to take turns in our breakdown moments.
All this being said, it’s been difficult but the Lord has been faithful walking us through this time and preparing us to continue to serve Him as a family. Many family dynamics have changed since coming here. To not let this be a super long blog post. I will follow up on a separate post as far as what these changes have been. Some of the areas of change have been: security, friends, school, and discipline.
It’s been almost four months since I last posted. Many things have happened; we’ve had good times and bad times, many ups and downs. For details on what we've been up to you can get that from our other blog, Facebook or newsletters. I’m going to just keep it real about being a mom in this update.
It’s been rough! I went through a time when I felt very disheartened about being here. My love for the people and places faded away quickly but God restored this love and reminded me of His love for them and their need to know Him. I was reminded that even though some of the people here had hurt me and my family (my children) these people have a much greater hurt than I could ever have. They need Jesus, they need to know His love and God reminded me of this. Since this has taken place in my heart, there’s been a constant battle. Satan has been attacking our family like never before. Eph. 6:12 “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
It’s tough watching your children struggle although it’s a sweet reward watching them persevere and come out stronger and closer. We’ve come to get used to things like: having bugs in our food, walking through flood waters and getting completely wet; ordering something and getting something completely different; being invaded by ants and bugs; bug bites; lots of rain; sticky hot weather; power and water outages; noises everywhere; smells that we can’t describe, always ways having to be with someone, sicknesses of every kind; seeing the unexpected; isolotion, but all of this (and I could go on) said it doesn’t make it any easier that we are getting used to it. How do we stay encouraged and continue on in a place that is so very different from where we call home? We laugh, we smile and try to take turns in our breakdown moments.
- His Word - Without accountability I tend to make excuses and then spend more time serving instead of being at the foot of the cross, being a Martha comes natural to me, I have to work at being a Mary. I have been a part of an online Bible study since I left Indy, this has kept me accountable. This group of women have encouraged me and it’s kept me in His word daily. Being in the word daily has allowed God to speak to me personally through His word as I’ve been walking through situations. *Prayer - I am so grateful for our prayer team that lifts up our prayers when we cry out and also goes before us and prays for us before situations arise. I also have a prayer partner who I can test daily and we pray for each other’s families. The group I mentioned before is another special group where I can bring more intimate prayers to. I also have a prayer journal to pray for others, which is good for me to be thinking of others often rather than myself; however I’ve not been constant with this.
- Communication - Arron and I spend time talking with each other, about our children, us and being here. We also talk a lot to the children about how they are feeling, what they are experiencing, etc. I have my friends who at times I feel so distant from that it hurts, but I can always reach out and talk to them.
- Having Fun - We try to make time (between illnesses) to have family time. This is going to play at an orphanage, going to the grocery store, going to see a movie, play in the rain, eat out at a place that sells American food and exploring tourist sites.
- Traditions - Friday nights Movie night, every Friday night starting from about 4pm-11:30pm we watch movies together. Most Friday nights we’ve been going through Little House on the Prairie episodes. Everyone is allowed to get a soda from the store and a treat. The kids have really come to love our movie nights and look forward to them every Friday.
- Being Consistent - Trying our best to keep to a schedule in the midst of craziness. Having a schedule but knowing it can change at any second.
- Fellowship - This one is a new one for us. The Lord gave Arron an opportunity to pastor a church, which was not part of our plan. His plans are always far better than ours. This fellowship has been a huge blessing and has given us a place to go on Sundays to worship in our native tongue. We can sing praises to the Lord and study His word together. We spent the first 6 months of being here not able to sing praises to the Lord on Sundays, not understanding the beautiful voices we heard. We longed for this and to fellowship with others who we could speak with and who understood us as well. The fellowship is new but has been such a blessing.
All this being said, it’s been difficult but the Lord has been faithful walking us through this time and preparing us to continue to serve Him as a family. Many family dynamics have changed since coming here. To not let this be a super long blog post. I will follow up on a separate post as far as what these changes have been. Some of the areas of change have been: security, friends, school, and discipline.