Taiwan update: God is my El Shaddai

Greetings from the beautiful country of Taiwan!

Honestly, I don’t even know where to begin… don’t know how to start. I haven’t seen much of this country yet, but what I have seen, I have absolutely loved. I couldn’t tell you what it is about it though… What draws me in? The somewhat different climate? The outdoor shops and restaurants?  The mopeds everyone drives around (I want one!!)? The smiling and pointing and laughing children? The peace I feel when I walk around the city? I wondered why I felt so at peace, why I felt so comfortable, almost like this was home. Then a friend said, “when you’re in the will of God, it just feels right.” And that explains so much.

Speaking of friends, I couldn’t ask for better ones. The unity here is just beautiful. Even when there are little frustrations and upsets, I still sense a love that can’t be explained in “human” terms. Satan will not easily tear us apart. I love these people I find myself walking this journey with. And I know that when this month is over, we will all be closer to Jesus and each other. It will go too fast. It will feel too short. We won’t want to leave…

This is the first CI team I have ever led. I didn’t know what to expect, but I realized the danger of even having expectations. To be frank, I was nervous and not a little scared. How was I supposed to lead a team of assistants and kids in something I’d never done before? But the phrase Not my own strength kept coming back and I had to lean on the fact—the truth!!—that One greater had plans and purposes beyond my reckoning. It was He Who led me here in the first place. I must daily remind myself of this. Yesterday, we left Hsinchu and as I look back on this past week, I see the hand of God. My team is incredible!!  Thank you Alex, Steph, and Peter. Alex has a dynamic view of life and definitely  helped lead our group with that in mind. He pretty much rocks.  Stephanie has been my anchor. She’s steady and willing to serve and her love for Jesus is so evident. She’s a treasure and I’m so thankful I got to spend lots of time with her. Peter was our interpreter and I just gotta say, I totally respect him. He brought life and peace to our group and made it way more dynamic.

We are now in Kaohsihung, a full-of-life city. Our hotel is massive and pretty awesome…4 stars!! We definitely won’t be getting this kind of treatment elsewhere. ;) It is such a blessing…

I’m so grateful for what God has taught me over this past week. I found myself slipping outside of His presence and straying to the confines of my own mind, getting caught up in circumstances and what I’m feeling. I also have a tendency to want to “fix” things when other people are hurting and this week I was “slapped upside the head” with a situation like that… and I was drawn (figuratively) to my knees and I had to remember that I don’t have to carry every burden. There were moments of being emotionally hurt….of feeling rejected and unwanted. Lies. But…felt true all the same.  God is my strength and my El Shaddai. He is ALL I need. I must constantly remember this truth.

Next CI starts tonight!! Can’t wait to see what God does. Holy Spirit, please continue to make Yourself real to me.

Love to all my family. I miss y’all so much. Soo much. I can’t wait to come back with stories! :)