Encouraged

I know I just wrote a blog only a few short days ago but I really felt like writing another one!! And hopefully this one will be significantly shorter than all the other ones I've written!! Haha!!

Well, I just am excited about this week. It's just been a good week. I mean yeah, crap has happened, but over all, I have felt really encouraged this week. Do you ever feel like when you first start working somewhere new that you just don't seem to be getting everything or are still really far behind? Or you question if you've really picked up anything at all since you've first arrived there? Well, that's sorta how I've felt for a while. I am definitely one of those people who likes to be perfect at something the first time I do it. Well, I think God is trying to teach me that I won't always get it right the first time and that's okay. You've got to learn and make mistakes. It doesn't mean I'm incapable, I just have to learn, practice, and be patient. I just have noticed that I get real self-conscious, always worrying what other people are going to think or if they'll laugh at me or think differently of me if I don't do it right or screw up something. Well, I'm trying to work through that. I don't want to be like that. I want to have confidence in what I do, no matter what it is and confidence that even if I do mess up, it's okay and I don't have to worry what everyone else thinks. I'm just trying to remember that my confidence comes from Christ and that I find my worth completely in Him.

Well anyway, kind of to go along with all of that, I was put on dishes on Thursday. Dishes are probably the worst and most depressing job ever and Tommy put me on dishes all by myself. Now, you must understand, most of the time at work Sarah, CJ, and myself are always put with someone else. We always help other people their jobs and never really do a station on our own. Well anyway, I got put on dishes with no help. It was okay though because I really got the full experience of what it would be like to actually be an intern and work here like the interns and staff do every day. Well, the dishes actually went well and I had a little bit of help toward the end of the day from Maren but for the most part, I did the dishes all by myself and cleaned my area and everything. And when I was finished, I felt so accomplished and so good about myself. I worked hard that day. I worked my butt off. And I finished the task!!! It was such an incredible feeling!!! I know it doesn't sound like much to you but to me, it was kind of the encouragment I needed. It felt like I was actually capable of doing something by myself, like I had made progress here!!!

And then today happened. Saturday is usually a lighter day and Mike's daughters Christina and Luccia came and helped. They are so eager to learn and help and get in on the action (they are 13 and 14 years old). So anyway, Luccia followed me around for the morning and I worked behind the counter a little bit. She started asking me questions: "How do you use the till? What numbers do you press? How do you do this? How do you do that?" It was brilliant because I actually knew what to tell her, how to show her what to do!! It's one of those things that you don't realize how much you know or how far you've come until someone new comes. Then you see how far you really have come!! I was able to explain a bunch of things to Luccia and even make her lunch for her (which, she said tasted very good!!) But anyway, it just made me so happy and so encouraged. I don't feel like I have to answer as much questions anymore. It's starting to make sense now!! Praise God!! I think it's the encouragment I needed!!!

On a completely different note, last night we had a small group celebration thingy. The whole church ended up being there because it was actually a welcome home party for a couple that had just gotten married. But it was so fun to be with the church and the college age people. We are all starting to connect really well! It's so neat forming friendships with people from Malaysia, Ireland, Brazil, Spain, and wherever else we're all from!! Such a diverse group but one thing we all have in common and that is a love for Jesus Christ!! I think that's one of the things that I appreciate most about being here and working at An Tobar Nua. All the people here really do love Jesus and we're all trying to grow together and encourage one another along in our walks with the Lord. I am so thankful for them and the fact that we all get to journey along together!!

I do have a prayer request if you all could be praying. I am really praying about some big things right now that I can't share about just yet. It would be a big change in my life but if it's what the Lord wants then I want to follow His will. But please just pray that the Lord would open wide the doors and really make it known to me what He wants me to do. Pray that the Lord would also give my parents wisdom in the situation and that He would speak to them about the situation. Pray that God would just make His way known to me for this next phase in my life. I am sure within the next month or so I will be able to share more in detail what is going on but for the time being, please just pray for clarity from God. I'd really appreciate it so much!!

Well, it's super late here and I have church in the morning! Then I'm off to do some grocery shopping and chatting and drinking chai lattes with a friend! God bless!!!

-Meeshie =)