Being Both Stretched and Comforted

God continues to stretch me as I relinquish my ability to plan anything. I can hardly remember anything I’ve done in the past week because I’ve spent most of the time inside—definitely not how I planned my first week in Tacna, but a food bug that hit me and my team has kept us from doing much the past few days. Despite the difficulties, I’ve been able to spend some great time with God and have had the opportunity to praise Him from the bathroom floor…in addition to asking for healing. :)

The family my sister and I were originally supposed to stay with is unable to host us until they have a bathroom built, and those plans have been postponed for at least a few weeks. Steph and I have been staying with Brian, the pastor, and his wife, Chiqui.

This temporary home for the last week has been especially comfortable—I’ve had a cozy bed that I didn’t have to share with anyone; I’ve had access to internet in the house; and I’ve been able to speak English to Brian and Chiqui. I praise God for blessing me with this week of external comfort when I was physically uncomfortable.

Brian and Chiqui have friends and family coming, so we can’t stay in their guest room anymore. For at least a few days Stephanie and I will be sleeping on their couch and floor, and then we’ll be sleeping on the church floor for the next few weeks, possibly for the rest of my stay. There is a group of Chilean missionaries about our age staying in the church for three weeks, and I’m looking forward to getting to know them.

I’ll admit, I’m bummed that I may leave Peru without staying in a fully Peruvian household, but God is good, and He's been in control the whole time. The only real command I’ve heard from Him in regards to this trip is “go,” so any of the plans concerning where I sleep, eat, serve, fellowship, when I come home, are and always have been up to Him.

I’m constantly being stretched, and it is certainly difficult, but I am confidently hopeful that God will provide, comfort, heal, and grow me through everything, using it all to glorify Himself. I have no idea what our wonderfully mysterious God’s plan is, but I know that it’s perfect and I’m still ecstatic to be a part of it!