Finding the joy

Oh boy, so much to say about life on the mountain. First of all, thank you to everyone for hanging in there with the lack of updates these last 6ish weeks. Our month in Honduras was spent on the top of a mountain living in our tents. No service, no wifi, no indoor plumbing and guess what, I loved everything about it! When I look back at last month it doesn’t feel real. Not in the way that’s too good to imagine, although that is also kind of true, but rather in the “there is no way you are going to actually believe how hard, how crazy, how beautiful, how smelly, dirty, tired, or sore, we could actually get in one month.”  I lived it and looking back I can’t help but laugh at the complete chaos that was my life in Honduras. We were serving along side of an amazing ministry, helping them to finish building a church community center and furniture for both. We had a three day long women and children’s event, we did house visits in the local communities, we hiked and hauled wood, we carried cement to a new construction site, we harvested vegetables from the farm and we had fun doing it all.

On the mountain I learned what it really means to get my joy from the Lord. When we would haul wood we would have to hike a couple miles up, then we would put it on our shoulders and hike/fall back down to our construction site/camp. One trip was between 5 and 6 miles. Some days we did more than one trip other days we just did one and then worked construction. The wood was not light and left our shoulders bruised and sore. It was not an easy hike, I was tired, hot and sweaty and yet I enjoyed the work. In a moment that considering all the facts shouldn’t have been fun, I was having fun. I found it easy to feel joy, I was enjoying the view, the company and the frequent appearance of the most unique and beautiful butterflies I have ever seen. To be honest I didn’t know I really liked butterflies, turns out I love them. I found myself feeling seen by God and in awe of his creation. I did a lot of reflection about why it was so easy for me to be feeling joy even during the hard moments, and perhaps this is obvious but it is because of God. The hard work was not in vein, it was to help build up HIS kingdom. The joy was because I was so sure of my purpose in that moment. I was living completely unselfishly and l was working physically hard to bring glory to God. Don’t get me wrong I was not living that every moment of everyday, but when I was hurting and hot carrying wood on my shoulder and I was able to stay focused on my purpose, I found joy. 

God doesn’t promise us that there will not be hard times, rather he promises that when we live with him and for him there is joy. “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forever more.” Psalm 16:11 John 15:1-17 is a really wonderful depiction of what he promises to us in this life if we choose to follow and obey Him. He is offering a fruitful and joyful life here on earth and it is ours for the taking. 

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants,[a] for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”

Man it really was a good month. I loved having my own space in my tent. I loved getting to be with the entire squad. I loved the work we were doing. I loved Carmen’s pancakes. I loved the view from the top of the mountain. I loved (like, really REALLY loved) the people.And I loved that amidst the craziness God was there pursuing me, wanting me to know him better, and teaching me how to better understand the joy he has for me. 

Other highlights from the month;

• A real life very scary ant invasion, those things bite/sting and it hurts

• Finding a scorpion on my tent

• Going on a waterfall hike/tour that actually made me scared for my life but was probably the coolest thing I have ever done

• I dislocated my shoulder falling down a mountain, don’t worry it popped right back into place

• Going on a surprise,  seemingly never ending hike where I fell of the edge of a cliff, thank goodness I was able to grab onto a branch and my friends pulled me back up

• Sliding on our butts down a hill on the same said hike because it was too steep and slippery to actually walk 

• Falling down because of the mud 5 times in ONE day, thank you Nicole for literally hosing me off while still fully clothed, I still haven’t gotten all the mud out of those clothes

• Squeezing 10-14 people and our backpacks in the back of a truck for a bumpy 45 minutes drive each week we went down the mountain

I still can’t believe this is my real life. I will cherish these memories and experiences forever. As always thank you so much for your love, prayers and support. I miss you all back at home. God bless.