Being in a new place is exciting, adventurous, and amazing and I wouldn't trade it for anything. But some days it is hard living away from the people and the culture you are most familiar with. There is always a little bit of an awkward period between moving to a place and feeling completely settled. I think the "lonely days" spread out. For example at the beginning maybe once or twice a week, toward the end maybe once a month, but everyone I believe in a new place experiences a lonely day every once in a while.
This past weekend, I had a "vulnerable" day. Rovian had gone to Jarabacoa, and some of the other people I hang out with were busy and so I was feeling a little bit of cabin fever and lonely. I often don't mind going to church by myself, but on Sunday, I was feeling a little apprehensive about sitting by myself in church and standing out in the crowd as one of the only "gringas." I went to church anyway. I snuck into the back a little late and sat a couple seats down by some Americans, hoping maybe they might say hi. I hadn't even asked God for someone, I just was feeling a little low. God saw me, though. He saw me.
In the middle of a song I look in front of me and I saw a girl, as I looked closer, I realized she looked more and more like one of my running buddies from Jarabacoa. I literally ran down the aisle and there she was, sitting in my church. She apparently had been visiting the capital with her dad and boyfriend. I stood there and I cried. I felt overwhelmed by God's love, that He saw me and wanted to show me His love, even before I ever petitioned him for it.
But of course, God didn't let this be the end of the story.In my four months of attending that church, I have never seen a person from Jarabacoa, but in this one morning church service, there ended up being several people from Jarabacoa. During offering, another couple we knew from Jarabacoa sought us out. Their little family had been visiting in-laws in the capital. At the end of the service another group of people from Jarabacoa appeared, having been visiting the capital as well. Finally, I was approached by an American woman from the church, who sought me out from the crowd to ask me about myself.
When God gives, He doesn't give as humans give, He gives over abundantly. I have been reading through the miracles of Jesus and you see how time and time again he responds over and beyond what is required. If someone is dead or sick, Jesus touches them and they don't just start to get better, they immediately get up and begin to walk and talk. If there isn't food, Jesus breaks bread and not only is everyone fed, there are baskets and baskets of leftovers. Why does God do this? Why doesn't He just meet the basic need and go on. I think God wants to show us that His love for us is infinite. He doesn't just want us to have some things. He wants us to have EVERYTHING! He didn't just send an angel to save us (not saying it would've worked), He sent his ONLY son.
In this moment in church, I was overwhelmed. Because I realized, God demands so much of us, not for selfish reasons, but because He loves us. Because He is good and He wants us not only to have a good life here, but to actually have and experience what He has, an eternity in Heaven. That is the most extreme over abundant gift I have ever heard of. God wants to share His home with our homeless souls until the end of time. Amen to a good God whose power never ends and whose love for us is unimaginable and undeserving.
"And God is able to bless you abundantly so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."- 2 Corinthians 9:8
