Things I have learned in the last 5 months...

Today is our five month day and I have been reflecting on some of the things I have learned since being here…

• I can be adaptable and find creative solutions to problems.
• I CAN cope with insects and animals everywhere!
• I like sunshine and never being cold but don’t like too much heat!
• Communication with family and friends means the world to me.
• I don’t need as much in the way of food, drink, material things as I thought I did – usually I find I can manage without most things I thought I needed.
• I can make my own recipes depending on available ingredients.
• To trust God for every day as it comes.
• I can make a difference in a person’s life without doing much at all.
• Even here my life is easier and more luxurious than most people in the world.
• God has equipped me to deal with these trials.
• I can be content with a little or a lot.
• Following Jesus and surrendering to his will is not without cost.
• Presents and cards on special occasions are not important – it’s the thoughtfulness of people in small ways that counts and the being with those you love.
• With God’s help I can have peace in all situations – waiting in long queues, sitting in long services, in the midst of loss, turmoil an chaos, and when things don’t go my way.
• Counting your blessings does help me appreciate what I DO still have.
• I NEED a social life!
• I love being in control of my own diary and never want to go back to full time teaching.
• God only asks me to do my best and leave the rest to him – I can’t do everything or help everyone.
• I love Jesus but HATE dead religion – oppressive systems, pointless committees and man made rules.
• My hair isn’t as important to me as I thought it would be!
• Mark and I can work through any problem together with God’s help.
• That I am so thankful not to be forgotten - we have some wonderfully supportive friends and family – support hasn’t always come from where I would have expected it to but some unexpected people have risen up and shown us such love and kindness.
• What we are doing here seems to be affecting people at home as well as here.
• I still hate it when people are late for things.
• I still REALLY miss a lot of stuff – exercise (surprised myself there!); seasons; walks; hot water; abundant food; having a cat; ordered roads and most of all being with people I love and who love me and being able to be myself and let my (now messy!) hair down! 

Here is the trifle I made using some of the single cream I accidentally bought!  Creative solutions! Ha!

And for a profound ending I quote a hymn of Charles Wesley which was sent to me and sums up my trust in Jesus really through all this…my prayer is that it may be a comfort to those of you that I know and love who are going through tough times at the moment…

Thou hidden source of calm repose;

Thou all sufficient love divine
My help and refuge from my foes
Secure I am if thou art mine;
And lo!  From sin and grief and shame
I hide me Jesus, in thy name.

Thy mighty name salvation is;

And keeps my happy soul above
Comfort it brings and power and peace
And joy, and everlasting love;
To me, with thy dear name are given
Pardon and holiness and heaven.

Jesus my all in all thou art

My rest in toil, my ease in pain;
The medicine of my broken heart
In war my peace, in loss my gain;
My smile beneath the tyrants frown
In shame my glory and my crown.

In want my plentiful supply

In weakness my almighty power
In bonds my perfect liberty
My light in Satan’s darkest hour;
In grief my joy unspeakable
My life in death, my heaven in hell.