Sometimes I wonder why I am here. Sometimes I miss my family, best friends, and air conditioning. Sometimes I miss chocolate chip cookies, Chick-fil-a, and Publix. Sometimes I miss hot water and the English language. Sometimes I miss college, football games, and going to Whataburger at 2 in the morning. Sometimes I feel like if I were in America I could be sharing the gospel with more people or pouring into more people. But for some reason I am here.

I have learned that you just have to choose joy.  Even though your hot and want to complain about everything you just chose to be happy.  Sometimes I don’t get why every single afternoon we go into Bethel. But then a 13 year old girl named Alena shares with me that both her parents left when she was 9. She lives with her grandma now and I think she is one of the sweetest kids there. I got to listen to her story comfort her and encourage her. Then another day in Bethel I visited this family. The dad is sick and unable to work… I am still not sure how they make money. But I get to spend time with them. I got to be with them laugh with them and help them chose joy.  The mom has taught me how to make tortillas and done my eyebrows using a razor. I have had a dance party in their back yard and laughed hysterically with them.  I have been able to pray with them and for them.   Through experiences like these the Lord reminds me why I am here and why I need to share the joy of the Lord with these people.

Sometimes I don’t absolutely love the ministry we are doing or I am confused on how we go about things. But the Lord has shown me that in the midst of it all the reason I am here is to choose joy. Not my joy but His. Then I am supposed to take that and share it with everyone.  In my team and in our ministry. He is showing me that I am not here for myself but I am here for Him and his joy. 

Philippians 2:5 says “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus”… so we just have got to do that ya know.

Later in Philippians 4:4 it says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”… Paul #killlinit

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

So in Nehemiah 8:10 it says, “Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength”.. that is basically it I am learning how to truly use the joy of the Lord as my strength.

Love you guys! Choose joy!

Also please pray for the health of my team, at least half of us have been sick.