#62: God has answered
my prayers to be challenged every day here. He pushes me to see the best in
people – the way He sees them – even when I don’t feel like it. He continually
nudges me to see people through His eyes. I need to remind myself to take a
time out and think about how God sees them and pray about it. He is molding me
into the person He wants me to be.
#63: I’m thankful God
has answered my prayers and has been pushing and testing me in things like
forgiveness and patience. I’m learning to put my faith in Him no matter how big
or tiny I think something is. He will always fill me up with these things if I
ask Him to.
Having my parents here from October 21-31 was exactly what I
needed. As most of you know I’m super detail oriented and sometimes I really
need to be reminded to step back and take a look at the big picture. The little
things don’t ALWAYS matter. My mom and dad could not have been more encouraging
in helping me see the big picture and how some of those little things I stress
about, really don’t matter. I had really good talks with both of them and could
not be more thankful for them! My dad said, “well if you would have opened one
of my blessing cards, it would have had some of these encouraging words in it!”
I told him I only picked them randomly. J A night or two after they left, I decided to
open a card that just said “encouragement” in the bottom corner of it – I thought
that was fitting for the time. And who did it happen to be from? My DAD! J It said a lot of encouraging
things like, “when opportunities knock her down, she’ll never let them keep her
down for too long,” “a girl who truly knows the value of faith, family,
friendship, and the gift of time,” and “who puts aside all judgment to share
her unconditional love of the Lord.” I’m clearly human and I have a lot to work
on, but I do want to strive for things like that. I want to remember daily to
fully appreciate my family, friends, and to put my faith into action. I want to
put my judgment aside and see people how the Lord does. I also want to cherish
my time here, although it’s challenging, I would rather be pushed to my limits
daily than live an easy life where I don’t have as many chances to put my faith
into action.
Some days I’m exhausted and my fuse is shorter than ever and
it’s hard for me to take the time to look at someone and see them the way Jesus
does. But God has been working on my heart and I am constantly reminded
throughout the day to see people with His eyes. When things annoy or frustrate
me (and I actually take time to stop and think about it), I have lots of ugly
annoying things inside of me as well, but God still loves me and sees the good
in me. I want to have eyes like Jesus and see people the way He does, all the
time. I’m a sinner and I focus on the wrong stuff at times, but I’m being
taught to see the good in people every day here. Everyone has good in them, it’s
up to me to have that attitude and look for it if I can’t see it right away.
God has also been showing me that patience is so important,
and every day I need to be refilled with it by Him! It takes a lot of patience
here and on days when I’m running low, I still have my bracelet on to remind me
to shut my mouth and pray about it. My bracelet is actually a pretty helpful
reminder, most of the time. I also made a new bracelet that is all purple – 4 shades
– for every shade of patience/peace that I need. A light shade for when I just
need a little prayer to help keep the peace with the team and relax. I also
have up to a really dark shade of purple for when I need to pray for a huge
amount of patience/peace when I’m going crazy. It has already made me stop and
think – is this really worth getting upset about, or is keeping the peace and
not worrying about details a better solution? Things don’t always have to go
the way we think they do. Sometimes we take the longer route, but get to the
same spot and I just have to be okay with that.
I moved here knowing it would be a challenge and I still
want to be growing every day. I want to be pushed to grow in my faith and trust
God more with big and little things. I want to be challenged to see the good in
people even when I don’t feel like looking for it. I want to be reminded every
day that life isn’t about having and keeping a schedule. I stop and think a lot
more about what really matters in life and “sticking to the plan” never hits
the top of my list. Life is about treating others the way Jesus would, sharing
the love of Jesus with them, and it’s about making the person the priority –
not the plan. Some days I’m tired and I really don’t feel like stopping at one
more place to be a blessing to someone. But I am reminded that God always stops
for me, and God has done more for me than I could have ever dreamed of. Learning
lessons isn’t always “fun,” but throughout this journey God has been/will
continue to mold me more and more into the person He wants me to be, with a
heart like His – ultimately that is what I want too. I’m excited to grow even
more from this beautiful, crazy journey.
Below is a picture of my beautiful parents and I at the top
of the Citadel in Milot, Haiti. I couldn’t have been happier to share that
experience with both of them! J
xxo
Love,
Tampico
P.S. I have a small case of ringworm on my arm – I would
appreciate the prayers so it goes away! J
Just general prayers for Cassidy and I would be great à to stay healthy as we work
with so many people throughout the day that have illnesses. J God is stronger than
any illness we run into, but prayers are always comforting too!!
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