These past four months have been such a journey. If you had explained to me back in January
the fullness of what I was getting myself into by coming to India and leading a
team, I’m not sure I would have loved the sound of it at first. These months have been absolutely incredible,
absolutely taxing, absolutely difficult and fulfilling and painful and
wonderful all alike. But looking back
now, I don’t think there are many things that I love more than the sound of
that.
For four months straight, I’m not sure if I stopped sweating
for an hour straight because of the heat.
I have lived in a country with an overwhelming language barrier– over
99% Hindu that is not usually so excited to hear about anything otherwise. I’ve been responsible for the health, welfare,
finances, logistics, spiritual growth, and emotions of a team of people who
have walked through physical sickness and brokenness every single day. Community has been a struggle at times. Ministry has been a struggle at times! I’ve
had responsibilities far above what I am qualified or desire to handle. I have doubted myself at times, failed at
times, and struggled to handle my own tribulations on top of the things that
have been entrusted to me.
Also for four months straight, the Lord has met me in
everything exactly where I was at. I
have seen, felt, and heard God in ways that I never have before. I lost a piece of my heart to a nation that
needed it. We saw physical healings, for
goodness sakes, experienced physical healings!
I came to understand the power of spiritual warfare, and take a full
hold on the authority that I have in Christ. I’ve been backed up and supported
by people who love me. I have witnessed insurmountable growth in every single
member of my team. I have experienced
growth myself –in my faith, in my leadership, in who I am.
And for the first time in what feels like a real long time,
this morning, I am back standing on American soil.
These past four months have been a time of sowing. Seeking the Lord, learning to fit into a
drastic culture, investing everything I have into nine incredible girls,
devoting countless hours a day to teach and love our kids at Asha, feeling
burdened by weights of brokenness in a dark place…and now, the time God called
us here for is complete. It is a time to celebrate, as the fruit of labor is
here and now!
I am so grateful for every sleepless night, every morning
that I woke up sweating, every trial and attack and sickness and
inconvenience. At the time, I’ll be the
absolute first to admit that it was hard,
and I came to the end of my own rope a long time ago. With that, the things that made this time difficult
are the things that forced us every day to push in that much further, to invest
that much more, to seek God more and to listen more intently. The Word tells us so many times that a man
reaps what he sows. These past months have
been so intense and challenging in so many ways that have required me to sow more than any season of my life
until now has.
And now, the harvest.
Praising God for this past season and for every trial and
celebration throughout it, and so grateful that He sustained us to finish
strong as a team! This may be the most exhausted I’ve been in a long time
physically. But inwardly, I don’t know if I could feel more filled. Thankful that I serve a God who sustains and
pursues those who love Him, and excited to walk with Him and see what He has
for each of us in this new season, no matter what it holds.
This is my prayer in
the harvest
When favor and
providence flow
I know I’m filled to
be emptied again
This seed I’ve
received I will sow.
Whoever sows
generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6b
Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians
6:9
