Sometimes I Wonder Why I am Here
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.
I’m praying for you Christy Joy!!! God is so faithful to reveal more of himself and His glory through our discomfort! Remember James 1…Count it ALL JOY! I love you bunches!!!
Gummy
I’m praying for you Christy Joy!!! God is so faithful to reveal more of himself and His glory through our discomfort! Remember James 1…Count it ALL JOY! I love you bunches!!!
Gummy
I’m still praying for you. I’m so proud of you and amazed at how such a young lady can choose to serve The Lord in such a big way! Miss your smile! Go 4A 😉
Great to hear about all that you are doing there, Christy! It sounds like you are getting many chances to use your gifts, which is wonderful. So glad you got this opportunity – you will remember it the rest of your life.
Peace!
Uncle Bob
Hey—isn’t that your middle name!!! JOY – you’ve always lived up to that name. Just keep on remembering that He has you there for “such a time as this” and He will NEVER fail you…..sweet Joy!!!
Yum chocolate chip cookies & whataburger!! I know I’d miss all that too, but you are feeding your heart & soul now and you will be full of the lord to truly give of Him to others. (less calories too). Look forward each week to hearing about your adventures. Thank you for all your giving back to all of us back here!!
Love you Christy,
Aunt Dena
It is easy to have joy when you are in the U.S. with all your friends and family, driving your own car and eating out 5 days a week. The true test of joy is when that’s all gone and all you have is the Lord. “….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.” Wow. Paul may have been #killinit, but even Paul couldn’t have worded it better than that! It seems like the Lord is revealing some huge truths in your life.
Proud of you and praying for you,
Tyler
Get it, Girl! I know how brutal it is at times when you are taken out of every comfort you have ever known. But It’s then that you really do realize how God is enough. He really has given us everything we need.
Praying for you! Tell Brittany to teach you the thankful game if she already! It’s the one thing that helped keep me thankful when all I wanted to do was complain.
-Ally
Awesome article Christy, thank you for sharing your heart. Keep pressing on.
Christy, it’s so great to see how the Lord has taken you back to Scripture to realize why you are here. You have a purpose for hearing here and on this squad…don’t lose sight of that!