Can I be honest with you guys? I was absolutely dreading my birthday overseas.
I cannot really explain why except I guess I was missing out on not being able to celebrate in the "American" way. I knew it would make me miss my family and my friends among other things. I had pretty much told my team to not even mention my birthday and that I didn't want to celebrate.
I did NOT want to be blessed, but God blessed me anyway. There is something so so peaceful about falling asleep under the stars singing praises to Jesus and waking up having complete peace praying "Lord use me to bring glory to Your name today." And God allowed exactly that to happen because not even two hours later over twenty children arrived for the school day.
What a blessing it was to sing, and dance, and play with them. To help them learn their colors, number, and days of the week. To cuddle with them and take pictures with them. God showed me that it is way better to give than to receive. It was the best birthday that I can ever remember and hardly anyone even know it was my birthday. The day was not focused on me. I didn't even get to talk to my family, and I was okay. I was beyond okay. I was blessed. Acts 20:35 says, "In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive." God showed me that in a great way.
The highlight of the night was getting to spend it with the girls from Sandra Jones Center. One of the girls lead them all in a loud, boisterous round of Happy Birthday and I got to end the evening studying God's Word, praying, and praising God. My attitude about the day was negative but God turned it upside down.
"The sun comes up; it's a new day dawning-Amanda
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes"
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