More winds of change

Friday May 25th
It seem like I've worked hard to find a routine and a couple of good friends, ...and here come the winds of change- again.
The first thing to change was my teacher...which has been a very good thing. Unfortunately Ginny and Kevin (G&K) have been the next change. I've mentioned G&K several times in previous postings, and they were like family to me. They're only a bit older than me and we're on similar heart and faith paths. They're new missionaries, live in the room beside mine, and suffer through school and bug bites with me. Yesterday they left to assist their ministry in the capitol, Guatemala City. They're starting a repeating cycle of 10 days in the city (1.5hr away), 4 days in school (M-F). It was hard to see them leave yesterday. I had become particularly close with G. We unloaded about life onto each other. While you can try your best to understand and feel what's going on here and in my heart, you can't quite get it unless you've walked this path. G&K are walking the same path. For the last month, we ate most of our meals together, walked to and from school together, lamented over school and homework together, helped each other with our studies, picked each other's heart, etc. No, they won't even be able to return to my house. Their room has already been reserved for someone else. So now....well....I don't really know. Before coming here, I never understood what a lose it would be to not have the small routines of life. I know this seems a bit over the top, but it seems like the small bit of comfort I had is no longer there.

Additionally, the # of students has increased by 3 for a total of 7 for all of this past week. This doesn't include the 4 family members and the dog. And I thought that bathroom time was limited and precious before! The revolving door for students in the umpteen language schools in this city is amazing. There's constantly students coming and going...another reason it's hard to make friends. As of this Sunday, 2 others in the house are leaving, and we'll be down to 3 students, which is good and bad. Good for obvious reasons, but bad because that means the dynamics of the house will once again be in flux as more students move in and then out. (The 2 that leave Sunday were here just for a special project for 1 week.) Actually, for about 4 hr yesterday, it seemed I might have to move out too due to a miscommunication in the school office. I am so thankful that was corrected before my spot was filled. I have become fond of my little room and even it's quirks and hope I don't have to give it up to someone else. I have 2 single beds in my tiny room, so it's possible I'll be kicked back downstairs to the rooms with no ventilation and no dresser if 2 people come who want to room together.

All in all, though, I know for sure that God has always been, and still remains in control...and He's working good for me in my life even when I can't see it. Perhaps he has some other folks he wants me to meet. Perhaps He's still teaching me that I'm supposed to lean solely on Him, and not on the friendship of anyone else. I don't know. But last Wed the following Bible verse was part of the devotional book I use: "I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10. I've known that verse by heart for years...and yet I read it with new eyes and it was as if my heart had never heard it before. And the previous night I'd read a very condensed story of William Carey, and his well known quote really stuck to me: "Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God." (Please forgive me if I haven't quoted this exactly right from my memory.) This along with the verse in Isaiah give me great encouragement.