Gozo

Gozo, in Spanish, means joy, and the Lord has been teaching me what it means to have a joyful heart in all circumstances.  There is a difference between joy and happiness, and so often they can be confused.

I really enjoy being happy.  Who doesn't?  I like when things are in order and everything is flowing the way it's suppose to... but that's just not the type of world we live in... yet.

For me, it can be easy to let my foot slip and be swallowed up in despair and sadness when things all around me are not as they should be.  There's hunger nearly every place I turn, disease and infection in the villages, houses being broken into, food sponsorship for children that have run out, kids fist-fighting in the villages, violence and true deep-seeded wickedness in many of the hearts in Sosua as men are encouraging women to sell themselves on the streets, and terrorist cults that are apparently preparing for the "end of the world."

And that's just the start of it.

While I was home this summer, I felt the Lord place in me a desire for my joy to be restored.  I admit that I had run a little dry and been worn out after only seven months on the field.  I longed so much for the joy of the Lord to be in my heart as I set forth to do what He's called me to do.

The enemy knows that the joy of the Lord is a precious thing, and he will do anything to get his hands on it and to destroy its existence in our lives.  He knows all too well that "the joy of the Lord is [our] strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).

Over the past few days I read the book of Isaiah, one of my favorites that is full of God's beautiful promises and prophesies.  I have been overwhelmed by God's steadfast love and compassion for His children in times of drought, isolation, darkness, and need as I read passage after passage of His voice speaking... (I know it would be easy to skim through these passages, but if you have time, don't miss a word.  His thoughts are more important than mine).

"Your dead shall live, their bodies shall rise.  You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.  Come, my peoples, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you, hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by" (Isaiah 26:19-20)

"Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you.  For the Lord is a God of justice, blessed are all those who wait for Him.  For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more.  He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry.  As soon as He hears it, He answers you.  And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes will see your teacher.  And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it.'  When you turn to the right or when you turn to the left." (Isaiah 30:18-21)

"The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus, it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing." (Isaiah 35:1-2)

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine.  When you pass through waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior... because you are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you." (Isaiah 43:1-4)

"Sing for joy, O Heavens and exult O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion on His afflicted." (Isaiah 49:13)

"For the Lord comforts Zion; He comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song." (Isaiah 53:3)

"And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." (Isaiah 51:11)

If you could only see my bible and the poor underlined pages of Isaiah.  I could write more and more of what the Lord has been speaking to me, but what it boils down to is His joy can be found in every season.  We are His children, He will never forsake us, and He will carry us through the difficult times.  He is a God who freely gives and hears our cries! There is no other god like Him.

The season I'm in now has been very different than before.  With the Suchers gone, my tasks have changed as I've been helping Rick pay ministry bills, visiting with families and making sure needs are being met, caring for Mariflor, and teaching English to the kids in the Redemption and to my Dominican family, Omero and Ester.

In the beginning, I was definitely overwhelmed with the responsibilities that laid before me... and I'd be lying if I said it was no longer overwhelming.  However, the difference between a month ago and today is that God has spoken new words to me and has given me a renewed strength in the hope of His promises.

Where has the Lord's joy manifested itself recently?

Teaching English in Redemption is a real challenge as these kids have no understanding of order and respect is limited, but somehow I return with new joy every class.  THAT is the Lord.  We've been going over common phrases, the numbers 1-12, and the days of the week in English.  Before every class I have the kids repeat a prayer in English, as well, for we can do nothing without Him.

 Kids placing the correct English day of the week next to the Spanish day

 Reviewing the days of the week together with Ester

 Two groups competing to put the days in order the fastest!

Going over their answers

Joy is definitely renewed daily with the sweet curiosity and playfulness of Mariflor.  I am constantly amazed at how bright she is and I know God has extraordinary plans for her future.  I'm certainly getting my training in to be a mother some day and though there have been trying moments (have I mentioned she likes the word "no"?), the Lord continues to place a deeper love and joy in me through her life.

 Little stinker rummaging through my kitchen cabinets

She LOVES reading and moving her mouth along with my words

One of the greatest gifts the Lord has given me in this season is my Dominican family.  Omero and Ester are a tremendous blessing to the ministry here as they've helped me teach English in Redemption and run various other errands.  Ester brings the Word to Playa Laguna each Wednesday to share with Erika and Victor, and Omero communicates with the pastors and helps with paying the bills.  They also were hard at work unpacking and organizing Rick's office that he wont even recognize the space when he returns!

Omero and the many boxes he unpacked

Mariflor with Omero and Ester's sons, Onefi and Homerli

Onefi loves Mariflor!

But beyond their hard work and service to the Lord, they have opened their hearts and home to me.  I cannot even describe the love I've felt from them.  Their three sons have welcomed me like an older sister and never want me to leave! Ester has been showing me how to prepare Dominican dishes and just last night she and I talked for hours about the things of the Lord and what He's done in our lives.  I am amazed at the door the Lord has opened for us to all know one another and grow closer.

Paula has also brought a deep joy to my life in this season.  Every morning I drop Mariflor off into her care and we spend an hour or more sharing our struggles, fears, hopes, and prayers.  Paula is so dear to my heart and I thank the Lord for her friendship in my life.

Paula makes the best oatmeal

At the end of some days, I come home to the realization that I've not spoken a lick of English all day.  I don't even get killer headaches anymore from this! I'd say that's improvement.

Of course, there are difficult and tiring days here, but there is so much more for which to be grateful.  The Lord has promised to restore my joy, but has asked me to guard my heart which hold the springs of life.  If the enemy is successful in stealing my joy, it is I who did not guard the well-springs of my heart to begin with.  I must stay vigilant and be found in the abiding Presence of Jesus.   (Proverbs 4:23)

There will always be struggles in this world, but God has promised that one day His ransomed will return to Zion with the everlasting joy (everlasting... just imagine!) upon their heads as all sorrows and cares of this world will be washed away forever.  What a day that will be!