Reflections
of 2013…
This year,
I’ve lived in a foreign country. The entire year. I’ve never done that before.
This year I really started to feel comfortable with my Spanish. My personality
was finally able to come out and I could pick up on and laugh at everyday jokes/idiosyncrasies.
I got used to being called “gringita.” I lived through my first rainy season,
phew! I taught vacation school and made some great little buddies. This year I
helped our artisan group become a formal association. I taught business classes
to many groups, and was even able to bring two young girls to Lima to compete
with their business idea. I celebrated one year as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I
was able to develop and deepen many relationships here and have people care for
me immensely. I got to bring many cultural insights/traditions to the people
here. This year I had the blessing of
going home twice to be with my beloved family and friends and watch my brother get married. This year I memorized
almost the entire book of James (need a major refresher). This year, I traveled
to Machu Picchu (with my parents), two different parts of the jungle, the beach, the highest
elevation lake in the world, and the 2nd biggest (and probably most beautiful) city in Peru.
This year I
had lots of challenges. I’ve been sick, well, more than a few times. I’ve been
misunderstood, and I’ve wracked my brain trying to understand why certain things
are the way they are in my daily reality. I’ve felt convicted of judging those
things and people instead of having compassion on them. I’ve doubted my work
and my worth. Many times. I’ve felt left out and like I didn’t belong. I often
craved, needed to hear positive feedback and didn’t hear it here (thank you to
family and friends who filled that gap so well).
But I’ve
also been held closer by God than ever before, because He put me in situations
where I had to rely on Him. I’ve worshipped Him in another language and found
myself in a church community who is truly like family. I have learned how to
open up, share what I’m feeling and let others listen. I’ve learned from the
wisdom and generosity of the people here. A ton. I’ve learned that you don’t
have to pretend everything is ok. You can live in the ups and downs, but live
it full out. I naturally am a person that holds back and “plays it safe,” but
oh how God is dragging me out of that comfort zone, little by little.
I am so
thankful for this beautiful, frustrating, growth-stimulating, adventurous year.
Can’t wait to see what He brings in 2014.
