July 14, 2015
I was supposed to write about this three weeks ago but... I'm sorry, okay?? I solemnly swear to try to upload once a week on Fridays (even though today isn't a Friday). Here, I'll put it in my calendar so it's there as a reminder every week.
COSTA RICA MK (missionary kid) RETREAT 2015. Let me just start with how amazing it was to refresh my memory of where I am in my relationship with God. Not only was it strengthened, but He showed me the crooks and nannies of everything we needed to work on.
The team from the States was a wonderful one and they did a fantabulous job on guiding us through the week. The pastor talked to us about how we needed to have faith in God and be able to show it through works. If we just go to church on Sundays and don't even open our Bibles a single time during the weekdays, are we really showing commitment to Jesus? If we say we go to church, but act nothing close to a Christian at school, what will others see us as? We needed to be examples.
It made me question myself. With junior year now gone, I looked back on the busy school year. I woke up, had breakfast, and started on my school work right away. I admit it. I didn't even give ten minutes to God every single day.
"I'm too busy."
"I have work to do."
"I don't have time."
I was making up excuses about how I didn't have the time, when, God was the Creator OF time.
I feel the works come naturally by taking small, baby steps. I'm not telling myself to go out in the streets every day and ask each pedestrian if they know Jesus (if only I had the bravery!), but a single smile to a stranger could fill them with warmth. You could hold a door open for somebody, help an elderly cross the street, or even pick up a piece of trash lying on the floor and throwing it away in a garbage can just five feet away.
God is just asking for a small portion of time in your life to talk to Him. Doesn't even matter what it's about. You could talk about food, animals, and even your crush. He would be more than happy to listen! You could read a single Bible verse in the morning, and let me tell you, it does change how your day flows.
Back to the retreat! After riding in the bus for... I think two hours? We finally got to the wonderful beach of Punta Leona! On the door frame of my room, there was a bug the size of my foot just hanging out like it was no big deal. It didn't even flinch when I slammed the door to get inside.
The humidity took a while to get used to because even if you just stood outside for thirty seconds, you were covered in sweat. Why didn't I just jump in the ocean you ask? Well, first, you had to walk a good twenty minutes to get to it. But all in all, it was amazing.
I got to meet new people, reconnect with old ones, and get closer to the ones who were always by my side. After my first year of doing online school, I had a deep need to be with people like me. The days were filled with piña coladas and fellowship, while the nights were filled with amazing sermons and late night talks. It was great.
The thing I loved about these retreats was that all the kids could connect. We were all going through similar things and we all knew what it was like to move to a new country after leaving behind friends and family members. We were all in this together (cue High School Musical as I exit out into the sunset).
"As somebody who likes to speak rather than act, it is a true struggle for me to show and act for
Christ. With the language barrier, it's hard to thoroughly [and precisely] talk about my faith and
so being in the field was a challenge for me.
It pushed me to show my Christianity through actions and always express joy even when I'm
going through a hard time. However, I do know that God
will forever be by my side and take care of me no mater what." -My past self June 23, 2015
No comments:
Post a Comment