You wouldn’t think that you would be able to feel the shifting of the seasons here in the DR like you do back home since it’s basically summer year round. But there’s been a change in the air that has been so noticeable to me lately. A new freshness. The sun feels different. The breeze does, does, too. A sweet, welcomed change. Growing up, I never really liked the spring, but a few years before I moved here, I really started to appreciate it like I never have before – that shift in the atmosphere that brings peace because the cold, lifeless winter has given way to the warmth of new life. I can’t say that winter here is cold and lifeless like it is in North Carolina. I actually enjoy winter here because it doesn’t get colder than I can handle (and I HATE the cold). But there has been a subtle, but distinct turn of the season here and I am relishing in it. I frequently find myself just pausing, noticing the way the sun hits my skin, closing my eyes, face turned towards the sky, and taking a deep breath to soak it all in and I imagine my Paw John in his plastic chair on the back porch with his sun hat on doing the same exact thing.
In mid February, I started a virtual bible study with some friends from back home. We’re going through a study by Daily Grace called Clinging to the Cross: How Lent Points Us to Lasting Hope In Christ. I have never done a Lent study before, but I have really been enjoying this one. In fact, I have been very interested in diving more into the church calendar and the rhythms of feasts and fasting. I did an advent study that I really loved and it just seems to go so well from the waiting and rejoicing of the birth of the Messiah to recognizing the weight of my sin and need for a Savior and reflecting on Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. I especially have been liking this study because there were 4 weeks in the old testament contemplating creation and the fall, the commands from God, the back and forth between the disobedience, consequences, and rescue of the Israelites, and through it all, God’s relentless pursuit of our hearts. This entire study has made me feel so seen in what I’ve been experiencing spiritually and just in life in general lately.
Last week, we meditated on Psalm 51 where David laments over his sin and asks God for forgiveness and restoration. Verse 12 really resonated with me, so I have been praying that verse everyday since.
Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.
Psalm 51:12
If you have kept up with my blogs, you know that I have been in a season of spiritual winter. I have felt so dry and so numb in my faith no matter how much I have sought the Lord, but I have faith that spring is coming. There will be a turn of life’s seasons, a new freshness. I don’t know when, but I know it’s coming.
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March Happenings:
- Christian, Madison, Cora, some Dominican friends, and I had a beach day! I realized it had been almost a year since I’ve been to the beach. I really need to be better about getting to the beach more. It’s good for the soul! I had a pina colada (with no alcohol of course) and it was GIANT. It doesn’t look as big as it was in the picture, but I love having them in the pineapple on the beach! I’m really glad we got to have a beach day.
- I met my friend, Lonny, for coffee at the coffee shop I love! It’s been a while since I’ve been and time with her was just so sweet and refreshing for the soul!
- We’ve had a few really sweet teams here that I’ve gotten closer with in the last few times they’ve been here, so it was good to have them back. I got to hang out with Hannah a little bit, Dr. Adam Keesling’s baby! She said her first word on their last day here! At breakfast I was talking to her and said, “Hannah, can you say hi?” And in the sweetest voice, she immediately said, “Hiiiii.” The entire dining room gasped! Adam and Rebecca questioned if that actually counted, but it counts in my book.
- I have been extremely sick for the last week and am still not fully over it. This last month has actually not been too fun health wise. I had a parasite along with an overgrowth of bacteria and yeast in my colon. So that wasn’t fun to deal with. Then last week, I started having symptoms of what I thought were allergies, but turned into some pretty harsh cold/flulike symptoms. A few days later, I also started having terrible stomach issues which have now subsided. But I’m still dealing with a lot of congestion, pressure in my head, and coughing. Hopefully I’ll be fully back to normal within the next few days.
- I’m excited for Charlie Rhodes’ team to be here this week! They’re from Concord, NC, and it’s just like having family come to town! I’m excited to catch up with them, play bingo, celebrate some birthdays, hang out with Brayden (one of last year’s summer interns), and get stocked on some Duke’s mayonnaise and Cherry Lemon Sundrop (if you know you know).
- My grandma turned 94!! I, of course, am not able to be home to celebrate with her, but I FaceTimed her and am just so thankful that God let me be her granddaughter. She’s the most incredible and influential person in my life and I am who I am largely because of both her and my Grandpa John.
- I am also really excited because I’m about two and a half weeks away from my retreat in Tuscany, Italy. God has been so good and so faithful to provide this opportunity for some much needed, deep soul care for me. They have been so intentional to be reaching out since January and praying specifically for each of the ladies that will be attending. I am so excited to be able to go, rest, and spend some sweet time with the Lord and with other cross-cultural women.
Prayer requests:
- The Lord would restore in me the joy of His salvation
- Get better from all the sickness
- My heart to be prepared for my trip to Italy and that it would be a restful and healing experience
- Upcoming decision with Solid Rock
