gaining Christ by loosing comfort

Loosing things I never needed 

Philippians 3:7-11 mentions how our hearts change when the things we find value in from the world become worthless compared to the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus. I couldn’t agree more with this verse and I’ve begun to experience what it is referring to in my own life. 

I never experienced this in my life untill being a missionary. In the United States I never gave anything up to be a Christian. My family supports me, I have a loving church community, and every creature comfort you could ask for. So following Christ just added to the worldly life I already was accustomed to. Anyone who knows me knows I became a bit of a wimp. Honestly, I would scream if I saw a bug, never played in dirt as a kid, and I was very picky about food. 

Thank you Jesus for pushing me! Life on the mission field is different for sure. In Costa Rica we still had a sweet church community that we were able to enter into and we had the opportunity to live with an incredible family. It became like a second home. In Nicaragua everything is different, we are working at a school and haven’t built many of the community relationships yet. But we’re so looking forward to it. 

By following Jesus’s call into the mission field in Central America, I’ve lost so many things that I never needed. Things I didn’t think I could live without. Right now we drink out of purified jugs because the water is unsafe to drink. Water is so essential to life and being so cautious as to not even use it on my toothbrush has been a challenge. But I’ve learned what a blessing it is to have clean water. 

So many creature comforts are lost: sleeping in my bed, flushing toilet paper, warm showers, air conditioning, clean water, driving, a wardrobe, choosing what we eat, and we gained a lot of bugs (everywhere). These are things that I have taken for granted my whole life. I never knew how different life was in another country. It’s one thing to hear about it but it becomes real when you live it. Even though I miss American food, internet, and having a room to myself, I wouldn’t take back this decision for anything in the world. 

By exiting my comfort zone, God has moved so much in my life, in showing me how much value I hold in blessings like cold drinking water, understanding the language in every conversation I hear, and so many things that are incredible, but not a necessity. The ONLY necessity in my life is the trinity <3 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 3 in 1. During the times I have longed for the comforts of home  or missed the way I grew up, God has reminded me endless times that He is enough! He is a provider (Psalm 68:10) living water (John 7:38) forgiving (Colossians 3:13) healer (Mark 10:46-52) comforter (2 corinthians 1:3) and loving God (1 Peter 5:7). When we’re willing to give up the things that he asks us for, whether that’s physically or spiritually, the reward is immense. 

My reward has been the opportunity to live in an incredible community, learn more Spanish, serve people and organizations in need, assist teachers in English lessons, pray over people, and most importantly, I have learned just how valuable it is to love God’s creation well. I’ve also gained the value of asking bothers how they’re doing and genuinely wanting to listen to the answer no matter how long. I found value in weeks of manual labor and have even begun to enjoy it because it assists someone else and shows them Jesus through the fruits of the spirit we exhibit while serving. Evangelism doesn’t have to look like handing out bibles. It can be as simple as showing someone love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. 

We are all called to exhibit the fruits. A tree rooted in the Lord will find itself sprouting the fruits of the spirit without even trying (it’s a choice to continue to grow in those areas). Our Heavenly Father loves us enough to send his only son as a human and prepare a piece of Himself to be beaten, whipped, hated, shamed, and hung on a cross to die for OUR sins. When we know that, it makes us want to do everything you can to show even a fraction of the kind of love you know with the people we meet. 

So yes, I miss home sometimes and I love my creature comforts but I’m willing to give up everything for His will for my life because I’ve seen fulfillment in so many incredible ways. God is so much bigger than my longing for my family. He creates the opportunity to choose peace in every circumstance. I am at peace with being overseas as so much of my life is shifting and changing. I couldn’t be more grateful that I am here and have the opportunity to realize how blessed I am at home, while being even more blessed to be His hands and feet. 

Isaiah 52:7 (NLT)

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!”

Thank you to everyone who supported me in fundraising and continues to support me and my team in prayer. I would love if you would pray with me. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the blessings you have placed in each person’s life. Thank you for being the loving, caring father that you are and the example your son set for us. We are grateful for the sun rising each morning, the breath of life in our lungs, and the opportunity to share your love by serving your people. I pray that you’ll  lead me and each person reading this out of our comfort zone into a place of growth with you Lord. We know that trials will come and weigh on our hearts. But thank you that You are there in every moment guiding us through the minefield of life. I pray that we would always be aware of Your presence and intentional with the people you’ve placed in our lives. In Jesus name. Amen <3