Post Ecuador

“Love is one of the least controlled elements in this world. It is wild and unfettered. Spontaneous and childlike.”

I’ve been back in the states for about a week now and it’s been a struggle for me to jump back into the routine of life after returning from my mission trip to Ecuador. I didn’t expect that to be the case but it has impacted me far more than I’d imagined.

There will never be enough words to accurately describe my trip to Ecuador, so I’m not going to even try to put on paper what that experience was like for me! I could never do it justice, but I do want to leave you with a few things.

I felt every emotion I think humanly possible. I laughed a lot. I cried a lot. I felt sadness. I felt joy. Some moments I was so overcome with joy I felt like my heart might literally bust out of my chest.

There were moments I was proud of myself and moments I was disappointed with myself.

There were moments I questioned everything; my life, my decisions, my future. And there were moments I very softly heard God say to me, “sweet girl, I’ve got you and you are exactly where I want you.”

There were moments I fought and overcame fear and moments I let fear take over.

There were moments God used people on our team to speak words into me and perhaps even helped lay the foundation of my future. And I pray there were moments that something I said brought light into someone else’s life.

There were old friendships made stronger and new friendships that just begun.

There were families that brought joy and gratitude to my heart and children that stole my heart.

In the midst of it all, there was one reoccurring thought, emotion, theme for me and it comes in the form of one small word but when put into action it is massive, powerful and strong…it’s love….love fiercely!!

You see friends, life is short. Life is hard. Life is messy. Life is complicated. I saw that and felt that there more than ever, but if there is one thing that I am sure of, it’s love. So live it, share it, spread it, do it, be it, embrace it, show it, nurture it, hold onto it…because in that one small word, great big, mighty things can happen!

Every day I was in Ecuador and the days returning I kept thinking I never want to forget how I felt in these moments. I never want to forget what this experiece was and what it meant to me and I want to come back living my life differently than when I left. So if I leave you with only one thing it’s to love and not only to share it but receive it. Love is the greatest gift we have ever been given. God loved us before anyone else ever could. He loved us so much that he chose us and sent his very own son to die on a brutal cross just for us. When I think about the fact that God chose me and thought I was good enough and worthy enough to love, I’m speechless!

So remember this…you are loved!! Yes, you!!

May I never take for granted that truth and may I never stop being love in this crazy life we live!

“People grow when they are loved well. If you want to help others heal, love them without an agenda.”           -Mike McHarguees