Gëzuar Krishtlindjet!!!!! (I finally learned how to say Merry Christmas in Albanian for the day!)
This year I spent Christmas in Tirana, Albania. We got to deliver Christmas Shoe Boxes to children in Tirana. It was such a cool experience. I am usually on the other side making the boxes and sending them, so to be able to physically hand the boxes to kids was a blessing I never expected to encounter. Albania is a beautiful country with beautiful people, and I am so happy God led us here. However, I will not sugar coat it, these past couple of weeks have been some of the hardest weeks of the race thus far…. besides maybe Honduras.… but it has been extremely difficult for me lately. I have never been away from home this long and I am struggling spiritually and mentally. I feel like I am burning out. It has become harder and harder to continuously give myself to ministry and be joyful in it. I never thought doing ministry everyday would be this draining. I have seen the Lord do some incredible things over the past few months and I do not want to miss any other opportunities to see more of His work. I have already met such amazing people here in Tirana and I do not want my exhaustion to get in the way of being able to make an impact on there lives.
I am writing this because I need prayer. Prayer that the Lord will remind me I am not doing this alone, that He is what gives me strength. That no matter how many changes I will go through on the race, or in life, that He is the one that holds me tight and remains the same. Pray that I will be able to continue to do the Lord’s work and build His kingdom, but to also learn how to give myself grace when I feel like I am falling apart. We racers sometimes forget that we are human, and we cannot be on go mode all the time. We must remind ourselves that what we go through is something most people will never experience. The constant change, the different cultures, living with people that legit started out as strangers and then the hardest part for me is never truly having alone time, it’s like college on steroids. It is not a normal situation and one of the toughest parts is not being able to explain everything we go through with you all. It’s just impossible.
Nevertheless, you all are the best supporters I could of asked for, you guys’ help keep me going. Your continuous prayers, financial support, uplifting Marco Polo’s and Facebook messages, phone calls, WhatsApp messages, letters, emails, the list goes on. I always brag to my teammates about how blessed I am to have such an amazing support team back home. It truly makes the difference knowing I have an army back home cheering me on. It keeps me going on days like this and days where I just want to give up everything and come home. So, thank you for all that you do, for sending encouraging messages and prayers and life updates. It keeps me going and helps remind me of who I am, where I came from and why I am doing what I am doing.
I pray that each of you have a Merry Christmas and that the Lord blesses you all and keeps your family healthy and safe. Please feel free to reach out, the time change is a pain, but it is still possible to stay connected and I would love to hear what the Lord is doing in your lives and how your Christmas was!
Exodus 15:2, The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
You have been hand picked by God to this ministry. Am praying that you get rest and encouragement that only He gives. You are encountering things that most of us never will and you may not again when this journey ends. Ask God to remind you of why you are doing this and remember how the lives you’ve touched are changed. With you leaning on Him you can keep on doing one day at a time.
Steve and I are Praying daily for you. Thanks for giving us better insight what to pray for. Yes remember to use that down time that God has given you to refresh, regenerate and be restored by God. I Pray you can figure out how to be alone when you need it.
Praying for peace and strength according to God’s power which mightily works within you.
Jesus frequently slipped away to be alone with the Father to gain strength for His ministry. We pray that He can be your example. It’s hard to remember some times that we need to do this, but the more challenging the situation, the more we need it. Everyone, especially your mom, is so proud of you!
Thank you so much for sharing the reality of your struggle. It is so relatable going into this month, and it means so much to hear some else express it. The Lord truly has not left us alone! Love ya girl!
Such a beautiful post and wonderful to read your update! Thank you for your honesty in the post and also the encouragement! Sending prayers, my friend!!
Lifting you up in prayer, sister! Thanks for the yes you give each and every day. Praying God strengthens you in your spirit, mind and body!
Prayers for you as you do His work!
Thanks for sharing so bravely, Michaela. You’re in the middle of a year that proves how strong you are! God is super proud of you, and so are we.
Know that you are loved and prayed for, Michaela. I’m praying Colossians 1:13-17 over you: that you’ll know more than ever the truth that Jesus created you beautifully and has called you out of darkness into His Kingdom of light. May you know by experience that He is truly holding you together.