We started Valentines Day off with a little party during the morning break. Since I wasn't teaching on Thursday morning I was able to prepare some goodies to serve the kids. We had Little Debbie heart-shaped cakes and marshmallow treats, candy hearts, and strawberry kool-aid. Jourdan and I stuffed two small gift bags full of Valentine candy (the good stuff such as chocolate) for Ethan and Melody. Since Kim was teaching, we invited Travis to come join us for the party.
After lunch, Jourdan and I made Valentine cookies and mixed up more strawberry kool-aid to serve to our English class. We weren't sure how many would show up for class since several had been absent for the past couple of weeks. Five of our class members showed up for the party and we had two visitors stop by for a few minutes. We played a couple of Valentine word games and then talked about love. It was a great way for us to be able to share with them about how much God loves us.
Lindy and Amanda came down from Dakar to spend the weekend with us on Friday. We decided to give ourselves a little Valentine gift by scheduling massages and pedicures at a salon in Saly. Before our 2:00 appointments we were able to relax for a few minutes on the beach. The ladies oiled us down from head to toe during our massage but it sure felt good. Walking in flip-flops in the sand and dirt really do a number on your feet. It took the lady working on my feet about an hour to get them soft and smooth again.
All of this was a lot of fun. However, I must be honest and say that Valentines is not one of my favorite holidays. It is a time when the adversary likes to remind me how much I miss my "Valentine" and thus feel sorry for myself. Also, living in another country away from family it is even easier to feel sorry for oneself. It has been hard to not feel forgotten by friends back home, especially every time you go to the mail box and find it empty. So, even though I have had some fun this weekend, I have also had to struggle with loneliness. It is at these times that I turn to the One who loves me more than any human could possibly love. It is through His love that I find true security and contentment. As I was reading in a book this morning, I found some encouraging words to help me when I have these attacks from the adversary:
"If we have a deep faith in His character, then it will keep us from doubting when the going gets tough. And, if we believe deeply in His purpose--to demonstrate to the universe through us that He is who He says He is--then it will help us hang in there when life comes down on us like a thunderstorm in July."
I cling to this promise that if I will give to Him all that I have and all that I am, He will fulfill the deepest longings of my soul. He will satisfy me with Himself. So I will fight off the adversary and his attacks by concentrating not on what I am missing but on what I have: God's everlasting love.
Sherrill I know a version of how you feel!! It's so easy to feel forgotten out here, to feel like people don't even remember you exist or that people are moving on or doing things and you don't get to participate. Thank you for sharing your heart and how God's spoken to you. He's used you to speak to me today :) Lots of love headed your way!!!
ReplyDelete