What do you get when you put a Chilean, 3 gringas, and a gringo "who looks like he could be Brazilian" together?
A really stinking awesome backpacking trip.
This week I just got back from a backpacking trip through the south of Chile. And it was awesome.
I never thought I would get to experience a trip like that, with great friends, being able to enjoy the beauty God created around us. We were able to go to 6 different cities in 10 days, eat some amazing food, stay in some awesome places, and just enjoy each others company. (Not gonna lie.. some english speaking was nice too.)
And while getting to travel and see places was a privilege, I'd have to say the biggest blessing was being able to laugh.
Before I left for this trip, I thought I was happy. I mean, I definitely was happy. But.... I guess you could say it had been a while since I let myself feel His genuine joy for me. I had forgotten what that even felt like.
Because let's face it, moving to another country is kinda... you know. hard.
It's confusing, stressful, and comes with emotions you didn't even know you could feel sometimes. Leaving your family is hard. Giving up your job is hard.
Throwing in an F5 tornado that rips through your town months before you leave, doesn't exactly make it any easier either.
When I went on this trip, I realized it had been a while since I had laughed so hard I couldn't breathe. It had been more than a few months since I last found myself on the ground just hysterical with laughter.
Thankfully I realized these things while I was laughing so hard I felt like I could pass out.
So yes, getting to see volcanoes, beautiful hills, the ocean, mountains- was all spectacular. But for me, simply getting to enjoy friendship and His joy for me was my favorite part. I am so ridiculously blessed by the people I am surrounded by.
His joy for us is always there, even when we don't think so. Even when forces of nature come through and wipe away our town, even when we find ourselves just going through the actions of being a Christian, and we don't know why. The Lord wants us to have joy in Him.
So my question for you is this:
When's the last time you really let yourself feel His joy for you?
Because for me, it was way too long.
"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all of our days." Psalm 90:14
p.s: if you've never had an empanada, please try to do so. They're life changing.
p.p.s: to see pictures from our trip, click here.
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