God is here too? (Blog from Africa)

I hate being comfortable. When things start to get too comfortable, I move on. Literally, I pack  up and leave, plan a trip, shave my head bald, erase any "secular" music on my ipod, etc. But this month I can't do any of those things...

I came to South Africa in hopes of living amongst those in poverty. I hoped I would have to use a squatty potty. I hoped that there would be no running water and that I would have to use cold second-hand water from a bucket to bathe in. But here at beam house, I take nice hot showers in a huge bathroom, I took a bath with oils, I can walk around the compound in safety becasue there are walls separating us from danger. 

My hearts screams at all this! Why do we have to drive 30 minutes away to go to ministry? Why do we live so far from the kids  that play innocently in the streets? Why do I feel like I'm in the padded room of Pretoria and going insane in all this safety and comfort? 

How easy I forget GOD IS HERE TOO. 

When I shared this with the  other girls on my team they told me how in past months they strugggled with the same thing. And one said that she was expecting the race to look messy and that God revealed to her  how easy it is to seek him in material poverty and challenging living situations, but how it is a test to seek Him in comfort and safety. 

I've been told many times arriving here that God places you, yes where you are needed, but also where you need to be. I've been so ready to throw everything away for Jesus,  becasue that's what I need to seek God. 

But this month, He asks that I have peace in Him when it gets comfortable and that I learn to seek Him even when I'm not suffering. He ask that I try to understand those whom I have judged because they live in comfort and to let go of any pre-existing assumptions that I have made. 

This is the challenge. I prayed for God to wreck my life and show me a different prespective. 

He's doing exactly that.