Hello world! Well, it's been a few weeks since I've been able to access the Internet for long enough to update this...so here it is.
This weekend I will have been here in Ecuador for 7 weeks, can't believe how quickly the time is going here.
Just a brief update of the previous two weeks that i never updated. I finished my language class on 15th August in Guayaquil, and on the 20th i moved all my stuff to my new apartment in Milagro, where I will be living for the year. The same day I arrived in Milagro I left and headed for Esmeralda. It's a northern province with nice beaches. We had to head up there for an ECC field retreat. Basically, this was for all the Ecuadorian church workers involved with OMS. It was a refreshing weekend, even midst the culture shock of having just moved to Milagro and getting on a 10 hour bus ride and leaving again. The weekend was great, and it was good to meet other ECC workers in Ecuador and hear about their churches...however I wasn't really feeling the best during the weekend...and the fact that I was so tired after all the travelling and culture shock made it harder.
As you may have heard I got sick on Saturday when I got home from Esmeralda. I stayed in my own apartment for the first time on Saturday night and ended up being sick in every way throughout the whole night...it was a difficult time. It was a new environment...totally different to Guayaquil...roosters crowing outside my apartment and loud music and dogs barking. Again, God was so with me. I woke up the next morning and couldn't keep water down, never mind solid food...so a friend came over and took me to stay at the pastors house. I have learnt a lot this week and God has been so real. When I arrived at the pastors house I was overcome by the 'real' practical Christianity of his family. I arrived and his kids who are 20, 15 and 18 were all about to head out to the cinema, but they immediately cancelled because they wanted to stay and look after me and keep me company. Praise the Lord! Company was just what I needed then. The doctor came round and after a blood test, diagnosed me with Typhoid. It would have been much more serious, but I had had the vaccination before I came here. It has been a rough few days, and I couldn't eat anything for 4 days, but Praise the Lord, I have been gradually getting my appetite back and my energy too.
My health has been low this week, but God has kept me strong...and kept me trusting in Him. I arrived in Milagro with huge culture shock and didn't know many people. From staying with the pastors family, I have grown close with them all and because I have been making friendships and I have a family here for me, I have been getting over culture shock. Praise the Lord. Through sickness this week, God has used it to show his faithfulness, his power to heal, the power of prayer and that in Christ I have a family no matter where I go in the world.
God led me to Psalm 39 on Monday and I read this;
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
These two simple verses were HUGE to me this week. It's so true...God is all I have here...but more importantly I'm realising His sufficiency...He is all I need! I thank God for everyone of you and your prayers this week as it has been difficult. I thank God for the family who have been looking after me. They would come into my room, kneel beside me, pray for me, wait on me, talk to me...and say for them that it's such a great joy to do that. One thing I must comment is that, these people have little money or worldly possessions; but they have the Lord and His love radiates through their actions. I got chatting a lot with one of the kids, Abel, who is 15. I was overwhelmed by his maturity. He was washing my clothes, making my bed, making sure i had all my medicine at the right time and feeding my when I couldn't. I thank God for this servant heart...a true servant heart without wanting anything in return. We can learn so much from his example!
Anyway, that's the lowdown on the sickness. I am feeling a lot better as of now, but still on medication and taking it fairly easy. The pastor said at the start of the week that 'This sickness is a prelude or preparation for the great blessings that are to come.' It's been so true this week, that we need to go through suffering and hard times to be able to appreciate God's blessings fully and to learn what it is to trust in Him in ALL situations. I praise God for taking me through this sickness, and for teaching me to rely on His strength even more.
Just want to leave you with this verse that had challenged me a lot before coming here and this week God has been using it again so much.
Phil 3:8- I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
I want to challenge you all with two questions that have challenged me over the past few months. Are you living your life as if God is all you have? ....and do you truly believe that He alone is ALL you need? Have a think about that...
...until next time, keep praying for a full recovery, and pray as I get settled into Milagro and get started to work there. Thank you all again for you prayers this week especially. God is using every one of you through your prayers!
Richest Blessings,
J
