Before coming to Venezuela, there were certain things I anticipated: warmer weather, meeting lots of new people, figuring out my new job, growing in my relationship with the Lord and getting to know my team.
The weather has been so nice though at times uncomfortable; temperatures have averaged in the high 80s during the day.
It has been so exciting meeting new people everyday. We've made friends with neighbors, people at churches and even employees at bakeries we frequent. We've also met so many students: those already involved in the student organization, Vida Estudiantil, and those who have never even heard about Christ. Venezuelans are very friendly and curious and initiating conversation is very natural. They welcome you to sit down with them no matter what they're doing and they'll readily introduce you to all their friends! A few weeks ago some of my teammates and I were on the engineering campus with an information and survey table. We are hoping to start a Bible study on the engineering campus and we wanted to start connecting with students that might be interested. I sat down on a bench to finish writing some things for our table when Alexis, a student I had met on the bus a week earlier, sat down next to me. We chatted for a little before he asked me what we were doing. I told him and he was so excited because he had just become a Christian over the weekend. He then introduced me to his friends, some of whom were Christians and some of whom were not. He introduced me to Maria Antonieta who was interested in knowing more about having a personal relationship with Christ! She had some time so right there and then we did a survey and I was able to share the gospel with her in Spanish! It's was so incredible to see Alexis's enthusiasm for connecting with other believers and then to see the Lord open doors to another student being able to hear the good news!!
Figuring out my new job has been a week to week adventure but I'm so thankful for each new experience. Doing full-time ministry is very different from being involved with campus ministry back home. I have so much to learn and I'm thankful that the Lord is so patient with me. It is evident that the Lord didn't bring me here because I'm really good at ministry..but because He is mighty and sovereign! Each day I learn something new about God, about myself, and about others. The national director for Vida Estudiantil in Venezuela, Deivi, told us on our third day here that God's purposes in bringing us here were not about what we could do in Venezuela but about what He wanted to do in our hearts. God has things He wants to teach me and Venezuela is where He has chosen to do that this year. Deivi also added that my effectiveness in ministry will flow from my growth in the Lord.
I have had a great time getting to know my team. I am so thankful for each one of them and the ways that they reflect Christ's character. All of us girls, 5 in total live together and we have had wonderful times sharing our lives with each other. They challenge me to go deeper in my relationship with the Lord and to love others more. I'm learning to be more honest about what I'm struggling with and God has shown me so much grace through each of these women. I admire their faith and perseverance. I'm looking forward to growing even closer and learning more from them.
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