Why hello USA
6 weeks ago I left for Chile? No way... It was definitely only a week and a half ago. Time flew by like crazy! Within the last week I had simply been trying to make the most out of my time in Chile. And here I am, in the Atlanta airport once again, already gone. I wish I had more time, but of course with volleyball tryouts coming soon, and senior year approaching, I'm glad that I at least had the opportunity to go and serve The Lord with my summer.
Throughout my 6 weeks in Chile, I feel like I've learned a lot about myself and what I want to do with my future. I'm at that point in my high school career where I'm thinking "man, I don't know what I want to do or where I want to go after high school!" Most people feel this same way by their senior year, a little lost and confused. Now, I at least have a small idea of what I want to do after talking to several people in Chile. This itself has been a huge blessing for me because I've been praying and praying for direction, and little by little God is showing me where to go.
That also relates to something else I've learned spiritually... Trust and patience. I talked a little bit about these ideas in my past posts, but I'll summarize again. I've learned to trust in The Lord, because his plan for my life is better than MY plan for my life. I have to trust in Him that he'll lead me down a successful path, so then I don't need to worry about my decisions and whether they're right or wrong.
"Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
And of course, patience. I might pray and pray and pray for answers to the thousands of questions I have about my life, but his timing is perfect. I have to be patience and wait for the answers, but I also have to have patience with people. That's something we all probably struggle with at some point. This will also apply to everyday life with foreigners. What I mean is, obviously it's difficult to communicate with someone who doesn't speak your language well. I've experienced this while working in Albertsons, and I'm sure everyone else has too at some place or another. Well, while I was in Chile, I became that foreigner who didn't understand everything, who didn't automatically know how everything works, and who was nervous to ask someone a simple question. I have such a greater respect for those people now that I've experienced what it's like.
Another bible verse I recently encountered: "But they who wait for The Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount on wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not grow faint." Isaiah 40:31
More to come soon because I'm about to board... Washington here I come!
