Keeping up with the Joneses

Serving in Bolivia

through

SIM

Brandon and Jamie Jones.

October 5, 2008

What have I gotten myself into

It has been 8 weeks into the school year. The first quarter ends this coming Friday. It seems as though it has been a long time. But then it also seems as though it hasn't been long enough. Am I really supposed to have taught my students eight weeks worth of stuff by now?

To be quite honest, sometimes I find myself thinking about my situation here in Bolivia this year. When it comes down to it, I am teaching a much heavier load than last year, the country is going through some pretty interesting stuff to say the least, allergies are my new obsession, and the rainy season seems to be reaching early into the dry sunny season and stealing my good weather. Sometimes I just wonder about God's plans for me and what I might have gotten myself into. What about Brandon? Well nothing could stress that man out. He's made for this life. But sometimes I wonder about me.

When I find myself wondering about things that seem to bring me down like this, besides feeling ashamed for my doubt, I try to think about the things that God has provided that are actually getting me through the tough stuff.

For instance, this year I have a much heavier load in school. Much heavier load than last year. I'm learning a lot about world geography and physical science without a choice. But God has given me a desire to plan things out more carefully this year, and what I am thankful that He has given me is a plan book that I actually use and have been using religiously to get through each day. If I couldn't plan like I have been doing, I wouldn't make it.

Bolivia seems to be an emotional teenager every now and then, and that kind of inconsistency is really bad for my nerves. But God gave me a husband who not only is pretty calm and chilled, he may be too chilled out sometimes. Brandon knows how to make me feel safe even when there seems to be chaos around us. God gave him that gift knowing I would need it for this time (and I'm sure many other times in my life to come).

This year I developed some really bad allergies. I have tried and tried different meds to calm them, but they seem to flare up randomly without cause and sometimes without a cure. In all my woes of sickness with no help in sight, I am always surrounded by my missionary family with so many willing members to help. I have been taken to the doctor numerous times by missionary ladies that God has sent to care for me. God also gave me Skype so I can call my mom with all my medical problems because she is still my favorite on-call nurse.

As for the rainy days, God hasn't sent someone who can turn off the showers, or sent me sun when I ask for it. But He has given me a larger apartment where I can put my wet clothes out to dry on the floor and furniture. He has also sent me some new friends that will spend rainy days with me when I've had enough of watching sports with Brandon.

I guess my question about what have I gotten myself into is already answered. I got myself right into the middle of where God has supplied everything I need, no matter what it feels like from my small perspective.