“I have learned to kiss the wave”

Hey, ya’ll! I wanted to continue to share my story with all of you. So, if you have been reading from the beginning you would know of the first part of my story. In my first blog, I spoke about the beginning of my journey as an MK before being on the field. But I wanted to share the rest of my story now that I have been living on the field for over a year.
Missionary work is hard. Ask any missionary in any country across the world and they would assuredly say the same. Living in a new culture is hard. Slowly adapting to a new way of life is difficult. Learning a new language is strenuous. But can I tell you something… it is so good. It is so sweet. There are days of missing home and being spiritually attacked left and right. Some days I have zero desire to learn Portuguese. There are days when I ask God “Why have You brought me here?” because I do not see what He is doing. But God steadfastly remains faithful. As a loving Father, He blesses and gives good gifts. I have had the privilege to get a front-row seat to see God working. I have had the honor to sit back and watch God’s hand work and weave through people and situations. Jesus, who is omniscient, has placed people in our lives and used my family to share Christ with them. It has been such a privilege.
There is also this personal side to being an MK as well. My spiritual walk with Christ has grown so much this past year. When there was chaos surrounding me, He was my peace. When I was in desperate need of strength, He upheld me and gave me the strength. When my spirit was sorrowful, He comforted me. When I was lonely, He was my Friend. When everything around me was changing, He was my constant. I have never had to rely on Jesus as much as I have this past year. Jesus, who never abandoned me, was my Rock, my stronghold, my hiding place. Thankfully, His grace was and is still sufficient. I am so incredibly grateful for all of the hard and challenging things that I have been through, because they had a purpose. They brought me so much closer to Jesus. My roots are anchored more deeply. My love for Him has grown abundantly. But also my eyes have been opened to how much I am truly desperate for Him. Jesus is my everything. He is the source of my identity. He is my satisfaction. My joy and peace are found in Him. Jesus is my Best Friend. So, now looking on the other side of my one-year mark, I preceive God’s goodness. Without a shadow of a doubt, He was using every uncomfortable thing to bring me closer to Him today.
I am not sure what you have been through. I am not sure if you are currently in a season of trials or abundant blessings. But please remember this, Jesus is working. Even when you don’t see it or you are crying out to God saying, “How can You use this?” He does not waste anything because He is a God of purpose. All the pain, all the suffering, all the time of waiting; He is using it for your good. Guys, Jesus loves you so much that He allows you to go through hard things! Thank the Lord that He allows us to go through trails! He is growing you! He is molding you and shaping your heart. Who wants to be stuck in this one place their whole life? Certainly not me. I want Jesus to make me look more like Him. I want Him to draw me closer to Himself. In the times of trails though, He generously provides what we need. Your loving Father, who knows you by name, gives you promises of hope. So, as you are running this race, remember that Jesus is using whatever you are going through because He loves you. “I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me up against the Rock of Ages”
― Charles H. Spurgeon

Psalm 121:1-2, Psalm 119:114, Psalm 27:14, Isaiah 43: 2, John 9:1-3,1 Corinthians 12: 9-10, Hebrews 2: 18, James 1: 2-4, Romans 5: 3-5