Hey everyone, it’s @chrismerritt’s birthday!

Chris is one of the most faithful and unpretentious friends I’ve ever had. He says what he means and does what he says. He works hard and takes care of his family. He is one of the most generous people I know. He doesn’t try and change himself based on the people he is around. He has as many firearms as he does tattoos (I imagine..).

I love and admire him immensely. And, should zombies ever attack, I know he’s got my back.

So, swing by his facebook or twitter and join me in wishing him a very happy birthday! Love you Chris!

I guess I’m a little overdue for a general reflective “how are you doing?” update. 

I know many of you get my email updates, but I tend to write a little more rambly and conversational here. Neither is more true than the other, just a different flavor.

I hope you have all enjoyed the recent pictures. I hope they can give you a little feel for the scenery and feel of life here. There are more pictures on facebook, if you’re interested.

I am doing well. I am healthy. I am still teaching english and music at the school and doing a lot of teaching/leading stuff for the youth group.

Life here has had its ups and downs. It is kind of day to day.

If I’m being completely candid, this is easily the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It has stretched me in so many ways. I have days where I love it, and days where I wonder what in the world I’m doing. There are some days I feel like I’m just overflowing, and some days where I am really fighting to be joyful at all and loving anyone besides myself just feels like a big inconvenience. Part of that I think is the Lord working in me, and part of it is also just that this is a dry place. Just real talk.

People have asked if you feel the “oppression” of being in such a dark place. Yes and no. I’ve seen some strange things, but not often. I would say the way it influences you is more deceptive and subtle…like loneliness, or feeling like you run out of breath quicker, spiritually.

And there are other aspects to it that are not really all that spiritual, like just missing my community and having people around me who are also seeking the Lord…or at least speak English and like going to the pub.

I have had complete confidence in coming here being the right thing though. I’ve learned a lot about God, people, and myself here. It is certainly not that God has been quiet or distant. Not even close. I’ve had some really sweet times with Him here, and I wouldn’t trade them. But of course I still have questions.

Our society is so often built on instant things. Truth be told, sometimes the Kingdom is more like yeast slowly working its way through dough, or like a big old tree that grows a foot a year for 100 years. The days where you see a foot of growth are really nice, but you can’t base your obedience or faith solely on them. It would be nice if every conversation I had with a Hindu or a Buddhist led to their healing, repentance, and baptism. Crazier things have happened. But love is also long-suffering, and God needs people willing to be intermediaries. The miraculous and the ordinary are both from Him, and by the way, it’s not exactly a black and white line.

Trusting God is sometimes way more powerful and important than understanding what He is doing. And some (most) places of understanding only come from trusting first.

Who knows how everything will or will not resolve, but I think I will be reaping the fruit of this journey in my own heart for the rest of my life. It is easier to see those things some days than others though, ya know?

So that is sort of how I’m doing, the real talk version. There are many more stories to tell, someday. I hope that is encouraging to you, wherever life finds you. God is there with you, and there is purpose in it. Just give it time, you will see.

I’m excited to come home, see dat girl, drive my own car, eat a steak, take a shower, and be able to stand up in my room. But I’m also so convinced that there is a lot more to come in the final 2 months of being here. Pray that God will continue to bring those things to light. Love you all.