“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” -Romans 5:3-4.

Endurance may be a main theme for me here in Guatemala. It is also the second value I am writing about.

I have loved the crap out of Guatemala. It has been amazing in so many different ways, but at the same time it has been hard. Hard on my flesh. It often felt like thing after thing was knocking me down. It was getting tiring trying to play things off as if I hadn’t fallen and get up quickly like you would if you slipped in an embarrassing way.

I have talked some about these struggles already earlier on, but they seem to keep on keeping on. I have gotten sick numerous times here, probably close to one day every week or two. Have missed out on some super sweet days because of it. The last few weeks my lower back started acting up out of nowhere. So my health has really just been knocking me down constantly and making me feel weak and a little defeated. 

Beyond my health, there have been a few things hard to get by. First losing my phone as I mentioned about a month and a half ago has created an interesting experience living without a phone. Getting the news about going to Honduras rather than Peru was a speed bump I had to maneuver over as well. I think the big one has been just having my mind wander to romanticizing the future back home, and being back to where I feel comfortable. I already feel like I have learned so much and I am really excited to get back and apply these things to life back home. I also am constantly feeling like I could be doing so much more at home where I speak the same language as the people I would minister to. 

With these things going on, it feels like a lot that we still have seven months left on the field. That’s where endurance comes in. To know God has me here on purpose for a purpose. I may be in for a desert season that forces me to really choose into each day, especially with what Honduras may look like.

This past week or two endurance/tribulation has come up a few times and made me feel two things: motivated, and straight up silly.

Motivated because like Romans says hard times produces endurance which will produce character. Going through difficult times will produce growth. We should approach “suffering” with that mindset of being ready to grow. Ready to search for what God has for us in that season and be willing to be refined no matter how painful that may look. 

What made me feel straight up silly is that we are told numerous times in the Bible that we will face tribulation, and getting sick a few times or losing a phone is not exactly what that is talking about. These things aren’t actually that big of a deal. I have brothers and sisters risking their lives daily for the sake of the gospel. They are facing legit tribulation and persecution. They are saying goodbye to their families every time they go out because they are not sure whether they will return, but the gospel is worth it to them.

It should be a privilege to receive more tribulation for the sake of Christ. What an opportunity that is. However, am I truly willing to face more tribulation for Christ? Am I willing to die for Him? Are you? 

I feel pretty confidently I would boldly die for Christ, but that is also a situation I haven’t actually needed to worry about. That day will come though Christians. We will be persecuted. Open our eyes to knowing that tribulation is coming. That way we can rejoice in Christ, because the gospel is enough for us. That our endurance is built up and ready, and we won’t be surprised and crumble.

Maybe start by approaching the annoying everyday things with the mindset of using it to produce endurance. To grow. To lean on God more.

Going into my last week of ministry and time with my team here in Guatemala before a quick 5-6 day debrief. Then a long bus ride east to Honduras..

I love y’all a lot! Jesus loves you a lot more! Embrace difficult times to produce character!

JD