Today, in school, a student asked me a question that in the past I thought much about. He asked, "Are there diseases or dangerous things that could hurt you in the Dominican Republic? What if you get sick?" This gave me a fantastic opportunity to share what God is teaching me a lot about- trust. I answered that there are things that could hurt you anywhere you go, but you have to choose whether you are going to live in fear of what ifs or trust that God is in complete control of anything that should happen. My students listened intently as I went into a lengthy conversation about how, in the past, I've missed out on opportunities to spread the message of God's forgiveness and His love. God has brought me to a place in my life that, even though the above question might cross my mind at times, fear doesn't rule me. I get to go serve- practically living Christ for these dear people to see. Several students followed up by saying they hope one day they can travel to places that desperately need to hear God's truth. I explained that they can start now, right where God has them. This was a God-given moment!
In one week I will be returning to the Dominican Republic with a group from Broadway Christian Church for the second time. I am so excited to reconnect with people I grew to know and love. I think back to my visit last November. I was pushed out of my comfort zone multiple times during that week long trip, yet I experienced God in a more real way than ever before. That was a "mountaintop experience" and I DID NOT want to come down from it. I loved serving with the group of people I had the privilege to go with- I was afraid of losing the closeness. I loved worshiping with the Dominican people. I got to love on children that may not get much love. I loved the simplicity of the people. God has been showing me some things about a few mountaintop experiences I've had in my life.... I wasn't meant to stay there and He won't allow me to stay there. God gives me the opportunities to take what He shows me on the mountaintop and put it into practice in the valleys of life. It's how I walk through the valleys that tests my faithfulness and commitment to live Christ. It's the ordinary things of daily life that prove the level of my spiritual endurance. But, often times, I forget that my character is formed through the difficult and low times. I get discouraged and selfishness sets in. I only want to live on the mountaintop. But, it is when I'm in the valley that I really learn and understand who Jesus is for me in a personal way. It is easy, when walking through the valley, to turn back. I give excuses as to why I decide it is too hard to keep going. God gently reminds me of the experiences I've had with Him on the mountaintop, and that He hasn't changed. He will walk with me through every valley, and it's there He starts to give me a glimpse of the vision of where He's ultimately leading me. So whether I'm in a place of experiencing the mountaintop or the valley, I will trust my heavenly Father knows what's best. I know God is going to do amazing things when we return to the Dominican, in us and through us, and I'm incredibly blessed to be a part of it!
