I would say that this last month has been amazing, random and uplifting. I am so blown away by the love the Lord has shown me and to the others around me. I am in awe at all the laughter and comforter I have received in this last month. I was walking back from the super market and was amazed at the fact that I can afford to by some of my own grocery's now! I also had the sense that Darwin isn't unfamiliar anymore, Indiana seems like the one that is foreign. It is bittersweet having the "normal" transition into  abnormal and as the streets of Indiana fade, the streets of Darwin become more clear to me. I know the Lord continues to build up the community here for me in Darwin and I'm blessed beyond words but I can't help but long for Indiana at times. I need to know that even though I can be upset and sometimes its for no reason other then I miss the familiar, I must learn to rejoice.

 

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

But rejoice in so far as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 1 peter 4:13

All these verses have a common theme to rejoice and be joyful. These verses tell us to have joy even as we suffer. We are even suppose to count it as a joy when we face trails and to rejoice always. That is a massive request if you ask me. How am I suppose to rejoice when sick kids are dying from common illness, people are attempting suicide and parents are walking away from each other? I am not going to lie, I fall short of rejoicing in every circumstance often.

However in the bible it talks about having a time and place for everything. So how does rejoicing always fit into that. I believe the answer to this is that as long as we are in the Lord we should have Joy. In Nehemiah 8:10 it says "Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” So although I be having a hard time and not able to see the whole picture I should still be joyous.