When I moved here and away from my hometown, i struggled. But the adjustment was not too long for me. I cope up with their culture and adapt to their food.
However, the hardest struggle for me was dealing with my spiritual growth (which is the most important aspect of my life). Yes, i go to Sunday services. But I'm not involved in the ministry where I used to be. Discipling youth. Preaching in midweek services and on youth activities. Joining camps and revival meetings. Feeding unpriveleged children. Handling cell groups. Always on the go for mission trips...Well, It's never the same with me here. Indeed, I missed the "former days". But I couldn't live on my past. I've met a lot of Christians. Some were really matured. But I could hardly find time to spend with them cause they have their own families and priorities in life. Distance also is one of the issues. Others are no different from the world. Compromising. A different person on Sunday, and another person in a week. You would be surprise to know that you go to the same Church. It's hard to find real Christian friends here these days especially that everybody is busy with "work".
So, I am just thankful to God that even if I may not always be in a godly crowd, HE provided me a godly company- my husband. Our devotions everyday helped so much. Praying together is what's giving me strength. I am so grateful that God is faithful in keeping the promises He made to me before I left Philippines, "I Myself goes before you and will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (deut. 31:8) HE knows that it is easy for me to get discourage. HE knows that i would feel afraid and be plain scared. It's so securing to know that God would tell me this : "Before you even utter a word, I'm involved in answering. In fact, while you're speaking. I'm involved in bringing to pass the very thing I have planned from the get go." God had seen my heart's desire, my heart's cry for HIM. If God had provided me with a good godly husband, and for my daily needs (my physical and emotional needs)...i know HE would find ways to make sure I would grow spiritually. This is GOD'S PART in My life.
My PART. Now, that i've got much more time being a housewife (which is not an easy task as many thought it was), I must see to it that I would still find time with GOD. Even being home alone, i could sill be distracted of so many things that would keep me away from God -like TV, internet, household chores, long nap on the bed and food in the ref. Becoming a worshipper, with my dog as my audience, is as much more exciting to me as to worship God in public. And I think it's much better...hahaha... Secondly, being a woman of WORD keeps me "alive." There's nothing like God's WORD -the Bible. And thirdly, conversations with long distance friends (thanks be to unlimited calls within the States) and my emails about GOD (around the world) are my means of witnessing and ministering to them. It seemed I've never made a difference. But i simply did. God's solutions are often strange and simple, sudden and surprising.
Nobody may notice, but God does...and that's all that matters to me.
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This is a wonderful article you wrote about your life here in the US. You are very articulate with your words and ideas.
I can absolutely identify with what you are going through. We are in the same wavelength. I am just so thankful that God knows what He is doing. He is teaching us to acknowledge the seasons of life. We are in a season where we need to allow God to raise us into becoming excellent wives, mothers, cleaners and chefs! Let us become a fountain of joy in our homes- to our husbands and children (future children, hehe!). As much as God wants us to reach out to others for the Great Commission, He wants us to start at home. I believe that if we fail at home, we could easily fail outside. While we are at home, we must equip ourselves with godly disciplines. And yes, it is important to spend time with the Lord in His Word, in prayer and in worship daily. And we cannot glory on what we have done in the past. We need to focus on what gives the Lord glory today and act on them. And I believe it is that we grow into women that He designed us to be.
I love Ecclesiastes 3:1, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." Indeed, everything is beautiful in its time. Let us embrace this time in our lives with gladness knowing that God is a Faithful God!
You are doing great JOY!
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