||Rewind, To Week One||

“Destrier was as excited as his master at this unusual journey, and Caspian, though tears had come into his eyes at saying good-bye to Doctor Cornelius, felt brace and, in a way, happy, to think that he was King Caspian riding too seek adventures, with his sword on his left hip and Queen Susan’s magic horn on his right. But when day came, with a sprinkle of rain, and he looked about him and saw every side unknown woods, wild heaths, and blue mountains, he thought how large and strange the world was and felt frightened and small. C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Return to Narnia, yes I’m 21 and just now started reading this series.

Immediately when I read this paragraph I rewound to the day before I left to come to Tanzania. I thought of the sendoff I had with my friends who surprised me with a Tribal Rave (my dream dance party) the emotions that came with that, as well as the excitement I felt in my heart to serve Jesus in this new continent.

Then I reminisced to my first week here and like Caspian, I suddenly felt the world grow bigger each day of that first week, even the first month, and myself shrink into what felt like an ever-widening corner.  

Everything seemed heightened and dramatic. My worries were many and I wondered why God called me here when it seemed like I could do almost anything better, back in the states.

But now, three and a half months in, I’ve seen purpose. Not all of God’s purposes because, well I’m not Him and I’ll never understand all His reasons for why He does what He does. The longer I’m here though, the more I’m ok with (some days more than others) just doing what I’m assigned to do or continuing long term projects, learning, being, laughing or breathing.

God is teaching me how to worry less and if that’s the only reason why He brought me to Tanzania I’m beyond thankful.

The reminders placed in pages of a book, words on a chalk board, or anything that takes your mind back, I believe, are important to acknowledge. It’s encouraging and magnifies God’s work in us, through Him!

Happy Monday

-DG