Life has looked a little different lately. Any expectation I may have held has been fully surrendered to the Lord. And to be honest there has been nothing easy about it. If you didn’t hear about a month ago, I fell into a hole in a garden and sprained my ankle. But because of the constant change of being on the field, I never really had time to rest it so the pain only got worse. By the time we got to the Dominican Republic, it sent a sharp achey pain up my whole foot from my ankle. Luckily, when we got here we had medical staff who were able to help me figure out doctors appointments and start getting me help (shoutout to Kim and Tim the very best!) After about 6 doctors visits, some painkillers, scans and a pair of crutches, we have come to the conclusion that I have a second degree sprain. Because of my medical history, after the initial sprain, it’s really easy to continue to injure it. I am able to start trying to walk on it again slowly but surely as well as continuing to take pain meds and starting physical therapy. My goal is to be well enough to go to the last week of ministry here in the DR!
I haven’t been able to really leave the base for ministry or church in a few weeks because of being on crutches, so because of that it has been really difficult mentally lately. All the lies started to creep back in. The lies the I have no purpose, that I am not loved, known, called or cared for. Fear has started to get a grip on me. Fear of living in the unknown, fear of the worst case scenario, the fear that I don’t really belong here.
Through all of this, the only consistent comfort has been the Lord. I have literally no choice but to trust Him and find refuge in Him. But that has also taught me the God alone is always more than enough. Every lie that the devil tries to get me to believe has already been conquered. Any time I am ready to go home, He reminds me that my feet are planted right where they are supposed to be. That He knew everything that is happening all along. He gently reminds me of His goodness and that every baby step I take towards Him is enough. He has never let me go and He is not going to start now.
Yeah maybe, my ministry doesn’t look like Monday- Thursday house visits with my squad or church on Sundays. Some days it looks like sitting at a hospital, other times it’s enjoying the presence of the few people around me. Ministry isn’t always the most Christian thing you can think of doing. Find what your good at, I have been making watercolor Bible verse prints for my squad to hand out to people they meet. It’s as simple as truly seeing the person in front of you and loving them as hard as you can. It’s being gentle with yourself when life seems to knock you down a little harder than usual. I have made the choice to not take this time on the field that I have been blessed with for granted. I have chosen into this season of surrender, living in awe and wonder of all the big and little things that God is doing and continues to do.
During this time, I don’t want you to worry but instead I would love for you to come alongside me in prayer not just for me but also our squad as we begin the final month of our race.
Thank you!
Delaney
