In the Pain, there is Healing

I had the opportunity to go to Mexico over Thanksgiving Break for a mission trip with a few friends. When I was asked to go, I was very turned off by the idea of spending my entire break away from my family and my home. First response was a definite no.I wanted to help, but forfeiting MY time and relaxation, not so much. It had been months since I have been home and sacrificing my time with my loved ones was not my idea of a break.



Being that my mom is an optimistic and quite an enthusiastic person, I found myself contemplating the decision of sacrifice after her encouragement to seize the rare opportunity. I finally decided to stop being selfish and give up something dear to me(my time with family and break) and do something for the betterment of Mexico. Immediately after deciding, excitement swept over me.



Reynosa, Mexico. Where we worked was called the "new colonia." It was pitiful. It smelled horrible. There was a clear lack of quality. The way I saw it was that they basically lived outside. I doubt their bare homes could keep them safe from whatever nature brought on. No electricity, running water, or plumbing. Needless to say it was an incredible eye opener. It really showed how much I acutally take for granted. Stupid things even, such as being able to throw toilet paper in the toilet! Where we were staying had toilets but, still not an efficient plumbing system, or what I am used to.



You think you know, but you really have no idea. Not until you have such a poverty stricken image. America's poverty is uncompareable to the outside world. Death is imminent. Corruption a custom. It is unreal to grasp if not enduring within.



While passing out blankets, food, and an occasional Bible, the group I was with ran into a woman who's husband was blind and could not walk. He has been laying in the same bed for 5 years. The wife could not read, therefore she was unable to read the spanish bible we had and they could not hear God's word on tapes because they do not have electricity. Wes, a missionary, translated what the man was saying. He explained how he did not know anything about God, but knew without a doubt that there was a "God of Heaven." He had witnessed miracles. Even though, he cannot see, cannot walk, there is no work, the hope he showed was admirable. The hope of the people we met was amazing. Here I am, living in the country of opportunites, and I still find hope scarce at times in my life. Yet, here are people who have next to nothing and keep faith firm. The children so joyful: happy and full of smiles. They really took ahold of my spirit. I found myself grinning more than I had in such a long time.



Going on the trip really put alot of things in perspectives. I cannot imagine a better way to have spent Thanksgiving break.

its been done

its been done, a line from a favorite song, introduced to me by a special person. Angela McCluskey in Telepopmusik. That's beside the point. I hate writing, I loathe people reading what I write even more. However, I felt compelled to document the things God was doing in my life. That was a couple weeks ago, now, Ive found the moment has passed, but since its a quiet Saturday evening and I am procrastinating finishing my research paper before the holiday I figured writing this would be less painful.

For the past year, I have been struggling with a lot of repetitive sin. Someone once told me that everyone has a certain sin that they find most difficult to overcome. It wasn't hard to figure out what mine is. As a Christian, the hardest thing I face is listening to God, understanding that what he wants for me is best, especially when it comes to relationships. I am the biggest dreamer when it comes to romance. I read almost all the Nicholas Sparks novels, saw Sweet Home Alabama so much I can recite nearly every line, and imagined the dreamy man in the movies as the perfect man. So the story goes.

Giving my relationships to God was one thing I had no intention of doing. However, when God means business, he means business and freshman year of college I found myself in a position so uncomfortable, so unknown to me. It is never easy to get over your first love, and I swear for me it was harder since I dreamt of love so much prior to that. As you love, you learn. You learn about yourself more than you can believe you would. Anyways, enough rambling, because of my stubborness, I did not give up that relationship that easily.

A few months ago in my sophmore year, I faced the same burden, to end the relationship. I joined a Christian organization that had strengthened my relationship with the Lord so much. I learned so many new things by hearing different women's testimonies. It has been inspiring for me. And there I was in a situation to follow God or choose my own way again. I knew I was not making the right choice with my relationships. I got caught in different sins that made me feel trapped and really took a toll on my happiness. I wanted to get over it, but sin is so inviting and seems so right in the moment. From my freshman year, I had made changes, but those changes weren't enough. I tried to rationalize sin and make compromises like, "well, I won't do this, but I will do this," even though both were wrong. Being the stronger Christian I was, I knew my feelings and thoughts would just get worse if I didn't face this dead on.

About the same time, my organization had their retreat for 2 days. A woman came to speak to us about being in a position of "comfort" and being in uncomfortable situations. Wow. Like when I first accepted Christ as my Savior, I felt like God was speaking directly in my heart. That weekend was so powerful. I realized that I was in positions that were too comfortable. I was not growing with God. He was not my number one, my relationship was. Any time of pain or sorrow, I would call up my boyfriend or guy friend in a heartbeat, not God. For the past 2 and 1/2 years I became so comfortable with him and being with him. I realized God was calling me to "be uncomfortable." Only then could I grow with him. Only then could I start making him my number 1. Life is uncomfortable, but when you are not feeling secure, God opens a door to invite you into his arms.

Upon getting back to my apartment, I thought about how much pain I would cause someone and how much discomfort I would face in upcoming months. I had to do it. I knew God did not want me to worry and that this was all up to him. He would take care of my and my ex. As for now, I needed to grow with him and only him.

Surrendering things you love to God is the hardest thing to do. I know it, it took me over a year to do it. I am still seeing out what God's plan with everything is, but taking life slow is where I am rightfully at. God has been teaching me strength and what happens when you use courage to do his plan. Holding on to relationships is my downfall. Lately God has, thankfully, been putting it on my heart to give them to him. I know I could not do it without him breaking down my barriers I have put up.

I know I am not the most interesting person to read about, so if you have read this thanks and I hope it gives any sort of insight to you.