The Dependence Days

Yesterday was Uruguay’s Independence Day. August 25^th two years ago, I celebrated the holiday with my hosts - the Corrales family - in Punta del Este, THE vacation destination in the country (although quite cold in August). 

*see post from that day

There, I snapped this picture of what looked like a homeless sea lion – mattress and all! His home is the sea, but now he’s in this foreign place all by himself - and it’s so exhausting, he just wants to sleep! Looking back at this picture today, I realized that I could have really related with this sea lion at the time!

That Independence Day was very early into my time in Uruguay when I frankly felt anything but independent. My lack of proficiency in the language, my lack of experience with the culture and my lack of knowledge of how to get around caused me to be very dependent on others - much like when I was a child! People don’t like this feeling. We want to feel and look intelligent, confident, and like we are truly contributing…more than we are being contributed to.

This, God used to really humble me to the point that being “dependent on God” sort of became the main theme of my internship. It was still my responsibility to work hard to improve, but I had to trust Him with the results…and to learn to laugh at myself looking stupid - because that’s just part of it.

Throughout the next few months, the everyday things like grocery shopping, understanding what bus to take and knowing where the good restaurants are, became routine and more natural. I was not only able to know my way around, but even to direct others! That’s when I felt like I was starting to do this thing - this foreign place could maybe, someday be home.

Even though this time, I will be flying into a place where I have been before, have relationships, and have a much better idea of what I’ll be doing, I still recognize my inexperience, weakness and necessity to be flexible! I need to be dependent on God’s power more than ever - fueled by your prayers.