Becoming!

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT

When I was at school, I had about a four-hour drive home. Just far enough that it was too far to go every weekend, but not so far that it was a burden. It was the perfect distance. And it was always the best four hours either direction. If I was going home, I was on my way to see my family! To do something awesome with them, or to rest in my home. If it was the drive back to school, I was on my way back to my friends and my community! Either way, I was riddled with excitement and anticipation for where I was going. But it was four hours of sitting still and waiting to get there. I learned to love the drive. To spend my time rejoicing in the blessings of both where I have been and where I am going. 

Teaching in Thailand came with many challenges. It was hard to have new kids every day, and never return to the same classroom or even school building in general. It was hard to build relationships with kids, or even to know what to teach, until we walked into the classroom to gauge the students’ knowledge. So when I heard that we would be teaching in Malaysia, I was nervous to say the least. 

But we serve a God of immeasurably more! And he had so much more for me teaching in Malaysia than I could have ever even begun to hope for. We joined with Gap K-Squad to teach at a refugee school at our host’s church, and we got to be in the same classroom with the same kids every single day. Being with another squad, and also during our all-squad month, meant that we had many hands to spread out. I got to be with the same three girls for the whole month, and dig into them. To love them well and help teach them at their own pace and skill level. Each day I watched and experienced the Lord equip the whole squad with joy, His love for these children, and endurance to love them each morning as fervently as we loved them the first day. There is new strength in stepping away and surrendering your hands, feet, hearts, and minds to Christ. 

Another ministry I loved in Malaysia was house visits! Each Tuesday and Wednesday night, we would visit a new home to do house church, worship, and bring a word and testimony. They were always full of joy and an outpouring of love, both ways. A house we frequented was Nancy and Deborah’s! Nancy and Deborah welcomed us to their home each Tuesday, and more than just allowing us into their space, they always prepared the most lovely meal. And 28 young adults is a lot of mouths to feed! Each Tuesday, they rolled out the long family-style table and ministered to us just by serving. They learned our favorites, noticed our needs, and were the sweetest example of hospitality. After dinner, a small group of us would stay for house church. Nancy and Deborah’s quickly became one of our favorite homes. 

I learned in Malaysia the beauty and majesty of being called home. 

Called away from my comforts, my preferences, from living out of my fears, and walking back towards my home instead. Walking away from the calling of this world, towards the voice of my loving Savior.

Coming home to Jesus, running into His welcoming, all-consuming love feels like my drive home from school. I cannot wait to get there. I cannot wait to be everything He created me to be and to walk in total freedom in His holiness.

But He’s in no rush to make me holy.
He reminded me that this is a slow walk.

The journey is full of beauty along the way. The waiting and anticipation is the transformation.
And there is glory in the in-between.

As always, prayer requests!

• My Team
  • We have new teams! Pray for vulnerability and unity in a new body!
• The Squad
  • That we would be present where we are, adjustment always comes with its challenges! We are separated again for the first time in two months, pray for quick adjustment, and for a new focus on where we are now. 
• For our Host
  • Pray for new volunteers for the school! Our departure means their abundance of helping hands left with us
  • That our host’s reach through his ministries would spread.
• The Community
  • For our students! That the seeds planted in our time together would grow roots and bear fruit!
  • That our students would come to know Christ.