-Matthew 11:28-30
Greetings from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan! I hope all of you are doing well today. It has been a crazy 3 days. With all the traveling, adjusting, lack of sleep, and getting to know the city, I have not had much time to unwind and take it all in.
Yesterday was my first full day, and it was sure a full day. Some of the highlights include touring the old downtown area, trying Shwarma (basically the Jordanian hamburger), Knafeh (a popular desert), a couple hot treats in the area. The Old Downtown area is the more traditional area of Jordan, while a more modern downtown is being established in the northern part of the city. We got to see the newer area, and go to the City Mall, which was pretty crazy. Our last endeavor of the day was hanging out with Nathan (one of the missionaries here), Jay (my roommate who is staying for a year), and a Jordanian friend of Nathan's at a local coffee shop.
This is merely the short version, of our long day, but you get the picture. Arriving in Jordan is like stepping into the dreamland. I never imagined, except from pictures, that life was like this. It is an adjustment being here, but I am good hands with the missionaries. My biggest barriers are reading/speaking Arabic, and being able to get my bearings for where things are in the city.
While these things can be frustrating, we must remember that it is God that is continuing to give us the strength to overcome these things. As I was reading my Bible yesterday, I was reading about how Jesus continues to call all back to himself. In the passage above, Jesus tells us to come to him when we are weary and burdened, and he will give us rest. I can definitely see that the language barrier, geographic challenges, and others will all prove to be burdens to me on this journey. Getting to know the Jordanians and understand their heritage so that the light may push back the darkness also presents plenty of challenges.
No matter what, God promises us rest. For me, it was getting to Jordan, and being able to be removed from all that I was doing, and taking up something new. Rest is more than just a physical thing. The rest is refreshment. It is seeing things with the eyes of our God knowing that he has already overcome the world. Rest is what we have when we come to God in devotions, prayer, silence, and our worship. It is allowing the layer of blah to be removed and allowing our God to clothe us with Himself.
Where do you find yourself today? Are you wandering, and desperately need rest? Take rest in God and remove yourself from the norm and allow yourself to taste and see God's goodness.
Well, that is all for now. I thank all of you for your prayers, and know that I am praying for all of you as well. Until next time...
Grace and Peace
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