I have so many things I want to write in this blog that I don't know where to start. That's why it has taken me so long to get another blog posted. :-) Specifically there are three big things that have happened in the past few months that I want to write about, but for each topic I have a whole lot I want to say about it. So I have decided to write three different blogs so you won't have to read a whole bunch in just one blog. This blog is going to be all about Ecuador and how God used the planning process and the trip to teach me SO many things!
When I look back to the trip to Ecuador and the planning process that God took me through my first thought is just amazement at how God was in control if it all from the beginning. He called me to take a group and He helped me get through each hurdle. There was no way I could have done it on my own. He was there leading and guiding me every step of the way and I give Him the credit and glory for all of it. He put together an amazing group to go on this trip and He worked in each and every one of our lives in huge ways. It's interesting because I had always thought that short-term missions meant more to the people we were serving, but through this process I learned that God uses it even more to teach those of us who are going to serve.
The biggest lesson that God taught me was faith without doubting. He started preparing that in my heart when I read through the gospels this past spring. Over and over again I read Jesus saying to those He was teaching to have faith without doubting. I knew we were to have faith, but I had never read or thought about the fact that it said "without doubting". I used to find myself praying and thinking while I was asking God to help me with something, "but He probably won't do it" or "God if it's Your will please do this". I would pray that because I didn't want to be disappointed if He chose to not help me do whatever I was asking for. I learned how wrong that was this past spring. I should be pray expecting God to help me not doubting Him and yet accepting whatever God chooses to do. God has used this lesson to help me through my challenges with my health. I will talk more about that in a later blog though. :-)
I also learned what it looks like to give all the control to God. When I was planning the trip it was really hard for me to figure out the balance of planning things/organizing everything and giving God all the control of the trip. It wasn't until we were in Ecuador that I was able to give God complete control. And the reason for that is because I had very little control over what was happening while we were there. There were many reasons I couldn't be in control. The biggest was the language barrier. I more or less knew what we needed to do to get from point A to point B, but there were many bumps in the road that were unplanned and communicating with someone who spoke only Spanish through those times of that were unplanned was difficult. When we arrived in Riobamba the bus driver didn't know where our apartment was and I had no clue where it was exactly. I had an address, but no way of knowing where that would be. And trying to communicate through that was very difficult. Don't worry we made it. lol! But throughout the whole trip I had peace (other than for about 15 minutes one day and those who went to Ecuador know exactly what day I mean). I knew that God was going to take care of it even if I had no clue what was going on. And God broke down the language barriers. No I did not speak perfect Spanish and I'm sure we didn't always understand what they were saying, but we got the point across. The frustrating part for me was that as soon as we flew into Miami I felt myself taking control again because I didn't have to rely on God as much. I could know speak the same language as everyone and I knew what I needed to do and did it with no help from God. I wish I could say to you that because of Ecuador I have figured out how to give God complete control of my life, but I can't. I can say that I know what it looks like and I strive every day to live like that.
I do have to say that being a "leader" of a missions trip is very different than being one of the team members. There is definitely a lot of pressure and responsibility and it took me at least half of the week to actually enjoy the trip because I was so busy making sure things were going smoothly. There was a point where I realized if things weren't perfect and if they didn't go smoothly, God usually uses those moments to teach us something. It was hard because I am a people pleaser and I wanted everyone to like me and to be able to look back at the trip and say that God taught them so many things. But I realized that wasn't my job. It wasn't my place to teach them something, it wasn't my place to work in their hearts, It's God's! And I definitely shouldn't be worried about what they think of me. I should be more concerned with what God thinks of me and if He is pleased with me.
Overall, the trip was amazing! God worked in so many ways in the lives of the team members and I hoped that He used it as an encouragement to those at the Ark Children's Home. We had a great team that went and I am still so very proud of each and every one of them. I have to say this group was the most unified group of any trip that I have ever been on. I was very impressed with all of them! They all became a part of my family! I miss them all so much and I miss all the kids and the Allan family a lot as well!
Thank you Lord for the amazing opportunity you gave me to step out in faith and take this team to Ecuador!!
In Christ's Awesome Love,
Julie
I will write more as soon as I can :-)
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