All I Need.

Last week another missionary, Devon, and I went on a mini trip to Tarija, Bolivia. Devon had a friend living there and a church she wanted to visit so I agreed to tag along! It sounded like it'd be fun adventure but I really had no motive or understanding of why I was going there. Well God did...

Tarija is a beautiful part of the country, known for it's grapes and loving people. We experienced both! The church's pastor and his family were incredible hosts to us. We volunteered to fix up some things in the church in the mornings with some of the youth group and then spent the afternoons visiting the country together from vineyards to lakes to circuses. We were shown such love from the body of Christ, I find it hard to explain. After 4 days the family was truly treating us like their children, the youth group like our sisters (coming to the bus terminal to see us off), and we had successfully made unforgettable friendships.

  

Before our trip Devon was a lovely girl. I knew her from a few missionary get togethers but didn't truly know her. By the end of our 4 days I had found a dear, dear sister in Christ. We shared so much of our hearts with one another. Every day and night we sang worships songs, prayed, and shared verses with each other that God had put on our heart. We found that we are two very different girls but that God is working in us in very similar ways. On the bus ride home (17 hours!!!!) we spent a majority of it chatting in English about trials and tests in our lives and the twists and turns that have brought us to where we are; amazement in God. We are both in love! We are in love with God and where He has us, serving Him in Bolivia. Our energy and joy and love just bounced off each other all week! What a breath of fresh air and a blessing Devon was to me!

The city of Tarija in the background!

Giant versions of Tarijan instruments.

One thing we found ourselves going back to in our conversation was the thought ..
All I Need Is Jesus. At the beginning of our trip I was expressing to Devon that I'm not sure about my next step in life and that it is a subject of much frustration. She advised to fix my eyes on Jesus, to leave the worrying, surrender myself and seek Him first. Later on we started hearing lots of songs with the lyrics of letting go of everything but Jesus, He's all we need, all we should want. I admitted to her that I don't treat Jesus like my prized possession like I should. We decided to make that a prayer for our lives as we fixed our eyes only on Him. The amount of spiritual encouragement I received throughout the week was incredible.

 

 


The crabs & fish we ate near the lake. DELICIOUS.

We've got the joy, joy, joy, joy, joy down in our hearts!

The last couple months I have been praying that God makes the desire of my heart, His desires! He did just that! This week I surrendered my worry about the future and truly was seeking after Him first and foremost. As I sanded down a church door in southern Bolivia this week, wrapped up in silent prayer I received confirmation for my next step in life. That is why I went to Tarija. To clear my mind of my every day thoughts and to really spend some time in worship with God. Time to submit myself and look to Him.

 
 I realized that God isn't taking me somewhere that I'll feel comfortable and can live a casual life. He isn't keeping me here where I am in love with everything around me. But He is putting His desires in my heart, no matter how difficult it may be for me to follow after them. He is calling me to stretch myself more than I ever have and to continue only looking on Him.
Right now I am beyond excited that God has given me the answer to my prayers and the direction of my future. I am also scared out of my mind. I am scared to dedicate more years away from my family and friends. I am scared to step out in my faith even when others may not support me. I am scared. And for that reason I am completely sure this is what God is asking of me...

The things of this world will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
You can have all this world, give me Jesus.