My First Month

Exactly one month ago today I was flying on a plane over the Atlantic Ocean asking myself what the heck was I doing!  Now I couldn't imagine my life any differently.  My first month in Greece has been such a growing and learning experience, with many laughs, new friends, a few tears and many obstacles that I had to overcome.  

Greece has been nothing like I expected, but I think that is a good thing.  I didn't come here with much expectations, just because I know from past experience, that usually leads to disappointment.  All I expected was to learn, grow and experience something so much greater than what I know.  And all three of these things have happened without the remorse of disappointment.  I have realized so much about myself and who I am, but most importantly the path that I have taken in my life has been purposeful and has lead me to this point.  

The past two years of my life have been a roller coaster, as many as you know.  I struggled to see God's plan in the midst of the hurt, pain, and confusion.  Why would anyone have to go through everything I went through?  Why did the storm have to last for so long?  Why was God letting one of his children get thrown down time and time again?  These questions were constantly on my mind.  All I wanted was to experience true joy!  And it seemed like that was the last thing I could actually do!

Not until now do I realize the purpose to all of it.  God was strengthening me, a little at a time.  He used every hurt and every pain to build me up.  If it wasn't for my past and everything that happened, I know for a fact that I wouldn't be here in Greece right now.  I wouldn't have been strong enough.  But through my past, I have learned to lean on HIM, and he will lead me to where I need to be.  He lead me hear for reasons that I didn't know, however now I know exactly why.  He wanted to prove to me that I can do this, I am independent.  God is all I need, and that is what he is teaching me.  He picked me up and put me somewhere totally out of my element, somewhere where I know no one.  He placed me here specifically.  God did not set me up to fail, he set me up to succeed.  He wanted to show me that though I have nothing here in Greece and know no one, I can do it.  I doubted myself and my abilities, and I had no need to.  God has equipped me with everything I needed to succeed in life, I just had to find it in myself and trust that it was there.  He took my weakness and traded it in for His strength.   It is the strength that I have acquired through Him that is enabling me to experience all that I am experiencing.  I am doing this, with God's help.  I am living and getting by in Greece!  This is all for a greater purpose!  My past has let up to this, and this will lead up to my future!  I have been shown that world is so much bigger than I could have ever imagined, and God's fingerprints are on all if it, especially the growth and the learning process that I have done and will continue to do!