Overcoming Challenges...

Buenos Noches from Belize,

Sometimes, the greatest opportunities arise from overcoming challenges. Lord guide me... I had many challenges placed in my path today. But, He saw me through them and made me a stronger person for overcoming them. Truly, what a loving Father he can be.

Arguably, the smallest challenge of the past 24 hours came from the paperclip-size gecko I found in my room last night. This little creature gave me such a hard time as I tried for fifteen minutes to get him out of my room. Thankfully, Cheryl was fast asleep. I dread to think how ridiculous I looked dancing around our room with a clipboard in one hand and my flashlight in the other. After an extremely frustrating fifteen minutes, I heard a little voice in my head say, "Eliu told you to embrace Belize". I looked up to the ceiling and thought, "Really?" When I looked back down, the little monster had disappeared. Yes, really. Okay, God, I read you loud and clear... the gecko gets to stay. 

My biggest challenge of the day came in the form of switching stations at the clinic. Today, for the first time, I was in charge of the "reading station". The tasks, themselves, were simple and easy for me to do. The challenge came with my interactions with the people who only spoke Spanish. Now, I know enough Spanish to understand most of what people say to me... or at least I can figure it out from context... however, I am very nervous to respond in Spanish. Laura, God bless her, was very patient with me. At first she would speak to the person if they knew Spanish and I would speak if they knew English. However, as time went on she continually gave me gentle nudges to speak in Spanish. I became more comfortable speaking the more I engaged the person being tested. Before long, those gentle nudges stopped and she told me specifically "speak to them in Spanish". I didn't say it aloud but I wanted to look at her and say, "Really?" When I looked over a moment later, she had disappeared. Yes, really. This time, I had to smile... hadn't I just been through this with the little gecko?

As it turns out, God had plan... as He always does. Laura continued to guide me as I communicated... mostly successfully... in Spanish. However, when she left my station to help another, I was no longer nervous. I was more confident in my ability to speak Spanish.... and for those times that we didn't understand each other 100%... we still understood one another. I know I've said this before... but I am truly amazed at how two people can understand one another on a deeper level even if we cannot communicated verbally.

Today, I overcame challenges... and I'm sure I was not alone. We served 126 people today in an extremely hot environment. And you know it's truly a hot day when the people of Belize are commenting on the heat.  So, I'm sure my fellow team members faced their own challenges as well. But just like He did with me... God puts challenges in their lives to help them grow in faith and trust that He will see them through. What a wonderful God we serve.

So, for tonight, my challenges are done... unless I run into that gecko again... 

But this time if I see him... 
Perhaps I'll leave him be... 
For God has a plan for him as well... 
And I am ready to embrace Belize...

I'll check back soon.

Bye for now.