Happiness

I was recently asked if I was happy with my life.  I immediately said yes…with the exception that I’m not 100% happy with my job. 

Long story short, I love my co-workers and helping the patients I see, when I see them.  There in lies the problem.  They don’t show up sometimes!  In the end, I don’t feel busy, productive, or challenged. 

I can’t complain, honestly.  I love my life, and I’m genuinely happy.

While running, though, I remembered that my happiness shouldn’t hinge on some one or some thing.  Period.

My happiness should be in God, for many reasons.  He doesn’t change, He is faithful, He loves me, He has saved me because of Christ’s work on the cross, etc. etc.  So, even if I might be frustrated with my job or disappointed by someone, I still have no excuse not to be happy, if I’m getting it from the correct and best source.

Happiness is a synonym for joy, and joy is a fruit of the Spirit.  Even if my world crumbles, I still have God and He is enough.  He is my source of joy.

What’s yours?

Turn It Up!

Usually when I travel I miss something, which is usually Smuckers crunchy peanut butter, and someone, which is usually my family, but the trip to Guatemala proved different.  I surprisingly didn’t miss anyone.  I did, however, really miss one thing:  music!

For whatever reason, I stopped to think about anything I had missed over the week and listening to music definitely made my number one.  It was odd how little music I heard over the week, so I got super excited whenever I heard some, haha!  And basically the first thing I did upon returning to the States was check out some music recommendations a friend had given me.  It also seemed especially odd to have not listened to hardly any music when I thought about how often I do listen to music.

Most days I play classical music in my office and then I turn on the radio for my short drive home.   As soon as I set my stuff down at home, I flip on my music.  I just have my ipod ready to go on shuffle mode :)  Then, of course, there are times I play it from my phone when I’m cooking  to use the radio for more variety.  The only time I don’t have music going, it seems, is when I’m running or when I’m driving to work.

Music is actually pretty powerful and can affect your mood and your thinking.  I’ve heard stories from people about this and, to a degree, have seen it in my own life.  I mean, a song may have a sick beat but then you listen more closely to the words and get seriously disturbed.  Delete!  Or you pay attention to the words and realize there’s a spectacular message in them, which is the best.  You have to realize that music is a form of art and the artist is trying to get a message across, so I think it is wise to be choosy on what you let into your head and heart.

That being said, I do like all genres of music except two, yet I listen to only a handful on a regular basis.  I listen to worship probably the most.  Lately, I’ve been waking up to a worship song in my head, which is a new thing for me but a thing I love!  I also love to get music recommendations to broaden my musical horizons, whether in a genre I don’t listen to a ton or by a musician I’ve never heard of.  Flashback to the mentioned friend giving me music recs to check out when back from Guatemala…   Plus, I wouldn’t have ever found who I think is the best pianist without asking a guy who he was listening to nor would I have ever learned of the best Christmas album without my brother’s suggestion to buy it. 

Another thing I noticed by not having music playing was that I hardly ever danced!  That’s almost depressing.  I love to dance and seem to move whenever I hear music but that’s another story. 

Bottom line:  I need music, and I’m always up for new stuff.

I Heart Guatemala

How do you explain 7 wonderfully full and unique days abroad in such a little blog space??

Well, you don’t.  So I won’t.

There will be photo sharing, phone calls, conversations, and the like to spill the real deal in all its fine details, to be sure.  I’ll be giving a fairly broad brushstroke along with some beautiful pictures right now about my time in Guatemala.

Now then, even though I’m young, I’ve been blessed with opportunities to travel a lot.  Each trip is memorable and different and leaves a mark.  So... What impacted me the most this trip?  It’s the simplest, yet most complex answer: people – before, during, and after.

Before I left, I was overwhelmed by those who gave so that I could go on the trip to Guatemala.  Two donors gave almost 100% of my needed funds.  That, to me, is absolutely amazing!  Moreover, I don’t even know who they are!!  I like to send thank you cards to my supporters, but I can’t because send one to them because they decided to give anonymously. :(  So… Thank you, whoever you are, for sending me!!!

During the trip, I was overcome by the Guatemalan people we helped, by the translators who helped my team, the individuals who were a part of the ministry my team partnered with, and, finally, the people I lovingly called teammates. 

The Guatemalans are a kind and grateful people.  They put up with my Spanish and thanked the team profusely for their help.  It was spectacular to see their needs being met immediately, such as sight being restored with glasses or knowing that the pain would soon be over after the problem tooth had been removed.  Honestly, I was reminded that a sweet smile can cross persceived communication barriers and tickle fights are also universal as well as so stinkin’ fun!

The translators we were so blessed to work alongside were nothing short of fantastic!  They’re life stories touched me.  Several were born into poverty, given to an orphanage for a better life, and are now in college!  Wow!  I take my family, my home, my upbringing, and my education for granted every. single. day.  Others were already doctors and were taking the next 2 years to study in order to become doctors in the States.  Wow!  I thought I was dedicated to my dreams and goals…  They all generously let me “use their Spanish” and taught me a lot of new Spanish words.  We also came away with some sweet inside jokes :)

My team partnered with Manna Worldwide.  They did so much for us – gave us a place to stay with hot showers, made us lip-smackin’ good food, drove us everywhere, teased us, provided agua pura, and so much more.  Best of all, they showed us their hearts for Guatemala and told us how it happened.  Many blessings to them and the work they’re doing for the Lord!

The 21 people on my team were incredible. I only knew a handful at the beginning but, by the end, I knew I had friends.  Since the group was so large, I was shocked at how well we worked so well together without drama and simply just enjoyed each other’s company.  Praise God!  We each had our strengths that shined while at work in the clinic and different personalities that shined all the time.  Major props to our fearless leader.  And the trip would have been quite dull without the ladies who bunked with me!  Oh, the fun we had no matter the time or place!

After the trip, I was sweetly reminded of others praying for me and my team through a dear friend’s letter.  She came into my mind while on the trip, so I prayed for her and her family.  I don’t think it was a coincidence.  She is involved with Gospel for Asia and has a huge heart for mission work, in general, and Indians, specifically.  Furthermore, I knew others were praying because there were times I knew God was working through me because what I was doing or how I was acting was not of my own accord and things happened that could only be coordinated by God.  Thank goodness for prayer!

I was further encouraged by a friend on the phone when I was explaining what I did on the trip as a “floater” and stated that it was frustrating at times and that it showed an area of struggle for me.  He gave me a new and better perspective of my role for which I’m very grateful.

Yes, people impacted me, my expectations, my memories, and so much more but even more so is God’s impact on my life through this trip.  I know what some of those things are already, yet I look forward to more light being shed in the days and years to come!

^ view from our lodging ^

^ :) ^

^ hammock... FTW ^

^ Demolished by me and Katie ^

^ an orphanage near our lodging ^

^ the view and clinic space on day 1 ^

^ the kiddos I colored with ^

^ just driving with this beautiful view... NBD ^

^ teammate and roommate, April, with a sweet one ^

^ I got to weigh the babies! ^

^ our translators ^

^ Santa Biblia ^

^ too cute ^

^ my favorite, especially because our friendship was sealed with a tickle fight ^

People

How do you view people? 

As a means to get what you want? 

As an obstacle to weave around? 

As a burden to endure or get away from? 

As an opportunity to learn something new?

As a pleasant encounter?

Knowing someone who uses others might be the worst.  They get what they want and move on, sometimes without a second thought. 

If you think of people as obstacles or burdens, you might never want to be-friend anyone!  What a shame.

You could view knowing or meeting someone as a way to learn something new or simply a way to have a pleasant conversation.

I’d rather see people in light of the last two mentioned.

Think about it.

I know I have been lately for a couple of reasons.  One, over the past few weeks, I’ve met several people or have been able to have more in-depth conversations with those I see only on occasion.  Those conversations or encounters have gotten me to think about and pray for that person.  I have begun to think and ask God why I met them, what I should say to them, or why am I/they being put in my life in the sense of what can I learn from them. 

Maybe I should simply listen to them like the lady I met this evening… Maybe I want to know what kind of music they listen to in order to broaden my musical horizons… Maybe they can teach me a new board game… Maybe they can show me how to properly shoot a gun… Maybe they like to have fun dancing just as much as me… Maybe I want to enjoy their company over a homemade meal… Maybe I need them for accountability…

  

Maybe they just need Jesus.

When I view people as God sees them, I don’t have to worry about taking advantage of someone, about being overwhelmed by their need, about false motives, about trying to get them to like me, or any of the like.  It’s so liberating!

This is a very recent development but one I like.  Another reason for it is because of what I saw in others and even in myself.  You know those traits that you notice in another person that drive you crazy??  Well, you yourself might have them, too.  Ouch.  One I’ve noticed is flakiness.  I think there are different forms of flakiness, such as not even responding to someone’s phone call or texts (which may fit into “bad communication” more so), but my form of flakiness stems from over-scheduling.  I try to do too much, so I’m either late or sometimes have to cancel altogether.  So now, I try to not over commit.  I’m a work in progress.

There are other things I’ve learned from people in my past, like not opening up so much/too much because it simply wouldn’t be healthy to do so, not to think of how I can get a guy to like me, not to be so surprised when people don’t meet my expectations, or not to care so much about what they think, say, or do.  I worry about myself much more now, because, in the end, when I think of things I’ve learned from people in my past, I see that they were selfish.  Chalk it up to up-bringing, personality, charm, beauty, or whatever!  I don’t buy it.  They’re sinful, just like me.  They’re selfish, just like me. 

We all need Jesus.

I’m trying to see people as He does and love them as He does.  It’s worth it.