Sunday, June 24, 2012

When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade.


June 24

Well, it’s Sunday! And that means it’s the beginning of the work week here! So, back to the hospital we went! Today I switched with Jen so she could get a chance to see a little more of the hospital by cleaning the air conditioner filters and I took her job copying medical records.

I was by myself, so in the beginning I was a little socially awkward because everyone around me was speaking in Hebrew and I wasn’t assigned to do anything yet, so I just sat awkwardly and stared at people. But then after we started to warm up to each other, I got to talk a lot! After every time I copied a file, I would be told to sit down and rest! So, one time I was able to talk to a man for about an hour! It was actually really interesting. We talked about all kinds of different things such as family, and our lives, and the differences between Israeli and American culture and he was religious so after he ate he had to read a booklet to bless his food and all kinds of stuff! I also got to speak to another man who made me a cup of coffee which I expected to hate, but I actually was able to drink the whole thing! Israel is going to make me a coffee addict! A woman came up to me as well and said, “You will be my teacher!” And she wanted me to teach her English! So I taught her how to say, “My name is” and “Cheese and jam” and how to say the time. She also taught me some Hebrew, but I think she was the better learner.

Yeah, before lunch I didn’t get a lot of work done, but lots of talking! But after lunch I was able to get a lot of work done and made like almost 400 copies! I was a speed demon. ;)

We were going to go to the IDF base tonight, but unfortunately, the people who were supposed to contact us about it never got back to us so those plans fell through. I was a little bit disappointed, but it’s ok! We got another day off! (Gabby and I had a pretty epic dance party...) We ended up going to the mall again, and since it was my last time probably at the mall I did splurge a little bit… it was fun. When we got back from the mall some people were watching Anastasia which made me really excited because I can literally quote that entire movie! So I stood behind all of them and mouthed the whole movie. People were pretty impressed I must say. Though I don’t think everyone else loves it as much as I do… it is pretty creepy. I don’t know why I watched that movie every day before kindergarten with my Captain Crunch Berries! Oh well. I think it’s a wonderful movie.

In our devotions we are still in Philippians chapter 1. Today we talked about the versus, “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”

Wow, talk about optimism! It seriously blows my mind how much joy Paul expresses in the book. I mean, as I said, he’s in PRISON. And with these versus, we get a little inside look on what it is like. Of course there are people there who supported him, but there was also the people who were envious of him! Paul was an apostle! And some of the people there preached the gospel because they were envious of Paul. They were selfish and weren’t preaching because they wanted the gospel to spread, but to spite Paul. But Paul didn’t care what they said about him. He didn’t care what they thought about him at all. In fact, he rejoiced because either way, the gospel was being preached!

It is not about the Gospel teller. God can work through anything and anyone. The fact is, the Gospel will be spread. And because of this we should rejoice!

Being here in Israel is really teaching me about joy. I mean, I’ve always thought of myself as a joyous person, and I think other people see that in me as well. But TRUE joy comes from God, and being here in the Holy Land gives me joy like no other!! Being able to talk with His people and to serve them as Yeshua did is AMAZING.

I love to serve. I love to serve these people. In whatever way I can, I want to have a servant’s heart like Yeshua. God is using this place to mold my heart into exactly what He needs me to be.

No comments:

Post a Comment