Learning Patience

Those of you that know me well know that i am NOT a patient person. At school, at home, in my sports, in any and every aspect of my life it is a challenge for me to be patient. Sadly here, a lack of patience in certain areas can be a bad thing, and now i am suffering.  I am alluding to the food.  Mexican food is God's gift to man...an array of flavors and textures that cannot be duplicated.  However, since my body isn't used to it...it doesn't really want to keep it in my system.

Yes you guessed it, i'm sick.

It's not as bad as it could be, but i am definitely incapacitated at the moment.  The dreadful devil that caused this sickness was CHILES!!! The sad part is that i have a weakness for them!!! On past trips to Mexico i have been teased because even though i look American, my mouth is DEFINITELY Mexican, meaning that spicy things don't phase me.  It takes a serious amount of heat to make me cry, but i will still eat it.  In a weird way, the pain and the adrenaline is what makes eating them fun.

If i had patience, i wouldn't be sick right now.  Patience would have kept me eating simple tortillas, quesadillas, and bread for a few more days to give my stomach more of a foundation before embarking on the chile experience.  But sadly, my lack of patience resulted in me giving in to both the red AND the green chile monsters yesterday.  My fault, therefore i pay the consequence.  I chose to put chile on my vasoloté (corn and mayonaise) and i chose to put chile verdé on my quesadillas.  It was sooooo good, but now i'm sorry i did it.

However, despite the discomfort, i have a very surprising positive outlook on the situation.  I see the sickness as a cleansing of my body and a cleansing of my behavior.  I need to learn patience, and this practical way is a good starting point.  It won't happen over night, but it is something i am determined to work on and pray about while i am here.

The Bible says to "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12.  This verse is the exact kind of thing i need right now.  The "joyful in hope" part is taken care of.  I am so happy to be here and so hopeful about what God is going to do through me that i feel like i am going to explode!!! The "faithful in prayer" part is also going really well.  Since my experiences on the planes coming here, prayer has been an even bigger part of my daily life than it was before.  The "patient in affliction" part is what i am asking for prayer for.  I am definitely afflicted right now and i need patience in order to get through it.

Thank you so much for all your prayers!!!