Reasons God is exactly Who He says He Is!

I have been so stuck by God’s work that I have to write it down.  As many of you know I had to take some time out from ministry in Toliara in the middle of April.  The next month was one of the hardest of my life as I struggled to sleep well with thoughts of fear of the past and the future.  I have had periods of depression as many do in life, and I know that there is three side, the before, the during and the after, but getting to the after while you’re in the during is hard to see.  Now on the other side of that hard time of seeking God’s direction I know that the only way forward is trusting in Him.  I knew going into that period that was true and He has proved it once again. 

During that time God brought me Lauren Daigle’s songs, including the song “Trust in You.”

This morning I found a few youtube interviews with her and my heart was reminded again of the importance of trusting God.  I will include the two videos that meant the most to me at the bottom.

As I look back on the last two months in Kenya and God’s direction, I can’t help but say that God is so gentle.  I left Madagascar saying I would be back to serve in Toliara and He completely changed my plan while still giving me everything that I wanted and needed.  I remember praying, “Lord, please work this out for the good of all involved” and I have seen that over and over.

When I left, I was struggling with the idea of visiting the States.  I wanted to go, but the travel, culture shock, and time change really worried me.  God has given me the opportunity to go home for three weeks in July, which is just the right amount of time not to worry about all of those things. 

I hit culture shock really bad at the end of March and I didn’t know what end was up anymore.  The Malagasy family I was living with was saying things that didn’t make sense to me faith-wise.  As I tried to learn about how to live well in Mada it was really hard to reconcile what they were saying and what I know from the Bible.  I was scared to live at their house.  After spending two months in Kenya and going through culture shock several more times as I transitioned into living with Kenyans and then living with my American friends, I am now ready to go back to my Malagasy house (with a Malagasy friend) to live for the next week and a half.  I am looking forward to hugging my Malagasy mama and praying with her and sharing our hearts together.  I am looking forward to laughing at meals with my Malagasy family and I am looking forward to saying goodbye to a Mama whom I will see in Heaven someday. 

I had a conversation at dinner early on in Kenya with a few teachers and a Mada missionary friend.  One of the teachers asked me if I wanted to teach again and I emphatically said “no.”  At that time, all I could think about was the days when the students aren’t listening and I wasn’t excited about the prospect of ever teaching again.  As I said before, God is a gentle God.  In the days to follow God was showing me who I am in Him and the word teacher popped into my heart.  I was so encouraged by the fact that even as I have served in Madagascar I have been a teacher.  God continues to give me teaching roles.  I knew before I came to Madagascar that I would probably teach in some way and it was true.  I taught Bible study to the Young Adults and I taught English to a group of wonderful young ladies.  When I was looking at options for moving forward I saw two positions at RVA.  One was for an admin and the other was for a band teacher.  Of the two, I thought I would be good at being an admin. so, that’s what I was asking about.  Low and behold, they needed a general music and choir teacher, which is exactly what I have done for 6 years.  I have heard over and over that I am an answer to their prayers, which is super humbling.

After settling into Tana I was able to call my leaders in Toliara and pow wow about my trip down there and although I left on good terms, the change in assignment made me wonder how I would be received down south.  My leaders and the young adults have been very encouraging, saying they are looking forward to seeing me.  Kara even told me that they have kept up with teaching English to the young women I was with and said they want me back to teach while I’m there.  I am so overwhelmed with God’s encouragement. 

There have been times when I have felt sad about “abandoning” my post in Toliara.  God is working in amazing ways there and I have been a little part of it.  It’s hard to leave that, but I have come to terms with the fact that God is working everywhere and I get to be part of it no matter where I am.  He is working in me, and He is working around me to grow His kingdom.  Alleluia. 

As I spend time in the capital city of Madagascar, where I started by teaching English at a Christian school for the month of July, 2014 I can’t help but love this place that has become my home.  I will have lived in Madagascar for a year, minus a few trips to Kenya, when I leave at the end of June 2016.  This place is like Naperville, or Aurora, or Downers Grove to me.  I am sad to leave it, but I know I can always come back and it will still be another home to me. 

Lauren Daigle - Life truths...