I am a social butterfly. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to be in the middle of the activity. And not only in it, but usually somehow organizing it. I love people. (Although I do require my alone time.)
Last week when my mom and Jessica were here, we were going like crazy. The few times that we had as down times, we would absolutely crash and just lay there. I was never lonely. I was never awake long enough to be lonely. And apparently when I'm tired enough, I snore. Sorry, Jessica.
Jessica left on Friday afternoon, and my mom left on Saturday afternoon. After that we still had a night of conference and Sunday morning to go, which kept me busy still. Monday was a break day, which I think we all so needed. A day at the mall, eating some awesome italian food, just chilling, were all perfect. The next day was also fun as I got to back to the secondary school and see a lot of the students, hang out with my new friend Crystal and her family, eat some good Indian food what! and come home exhausted.
And sick.
Ugh, it seems like I can't switch seasons without my body deciding that it needs to have a cold. And here in Durban, it's winter. Well ... it feels more like fall to me. But it's definitely not the boiling summer I just came out of in Georgia. And while that feels good, my sinuses decided they needed some adaptation time.
So Wednesday, I stayed at home sick. And was so. stinking. bored.
I'm not good at being sick. I'm not good at just resting. But I learned multiple things that day:
1. There was nothing I could do about it. Just because I didn't want to be sick didn't make a difference. The best thing I could do was rest.
2. God still has a plan. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is where I'm supposed to be, so even having to be still for a day is in His control. In fact, it's a lesson I probably really needed to learn.
3. I could wallow, or I could make something of it. I decided to listen to sermons from Bethel church, download Lisa Bevere's new book Girls With Swords, read my bible, accomplish some journaling and other things I had meant to do, etc. I had more options than just having a pity party. I sent out invitations to my pity party and nobody came!
4. Even though the enemy might like me to think so, I am not forgotten! Several friends from home randomly contacted me that day to let me know that they were thinking of and praying for me. I think it was God's way of giving me a little surprise. Because He loves to do that!
Even after that day, I still haven't been terribly busy this week, but that's ok. I've had some unique experiences but also have just lived life. I've been able to really build a friendship with Kristen, Pr. Greg's wife (who encouraged me to blog again! Thanks!), love on their three children, and just spend some time getting to really live day to day. As I was babysitting yesterday I was trying to wrap my mind around the fact that sometimes being on the mission field means hanging out with three little boys and building sand castles with them in the sand box. In fact, a lot of times life on the mission field isn't glamor or crazy awesome stories, it's just living your life out loud for Jesus right where you are.
And for some people, the right where you are includes a gorgeous city named Durban, in the beautiful country of South Africa. And you get amazed all over again that God chose you to be a part of an amazing story.
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