These past weeks I have been staying with Wade and Joanna Allen. They are another missionary family that live here in Bacolod and they have been a blessing from above! They have taken me under their wing and have helped me ease into life here in Asia. Carly and Caleb, their kiddos, have been fun to be around and have become my little sister and brother! When God takes you away from your family He always gives you another! That I have learned many times over. And I am so thankful for it. It just shows what a detailed, caring God He is. He knows what we need…even if it is a little brother that drives you crazy sometimes! Love you Caleb!!
I am now on somewhat of a schedule for daily life. I have language class every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. And in the afternoons I go to the market and practice! The other day, after my first class I rode a Jeepney (a form of public transportation) all by myself using what little language I know so far. I was so excited! Even though it may seem like a small feat…in life you must look for those! Sometimes those small victories are what can keep you going! And I have also been looking for the little ways that God shows up in my life here. I got this idea from a book I was reading a couple of weeks ago. The book is called Captivating by John and Stasi Eldridge. I highly recommended it for women. But the idea was to be aware of those moments that God gives you a smile from above. For example, I was in this store a couple of weeks ago and I heard on the stereo, over the loud speakers Nicklecreek playing. Now, I know…that is kind of random and you might be thinking how in the world does that have to do with anything spiritual? Oh but it does! God knew I needed to hear something familiar. He knew I needed to hear something that I recognized. So He gave it to me. Over the sounds of people speaking a language I do not understand, over the sounds of the hustle and bustle of a busy store…He gave me Nicklecreek. What is God giving you to smile about that you so easily overlook? Maybe it’s that random flower on the side of the road, the smile of your child under the dirt and mud from playing outside, or that fresh cool breeze out of nowhere. I challenge you to look and find that smile from Him. Ask Him for one. But be ready to receive it as well! And remember to thank Him for it! Maybe it’s not having a can opener for the tuna when what you really needed was an egg salad that reminds you of mom’s.
