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Through the highs and lows, the Lord is still good

So its been a long while since I last posted a blog about my journey over the past few months.  

Where do I even begin. There has been so much change since I last wrote. 

We are now in Eastern Europe finishing up our last week in Albania before we head into an all squad month in Romania!!!

 

The last few months have been a rollercoaster of emotions and frankly I’m still processing what has happened. Our time in Costa Rica and Nicaragua were very difficult months for me. I spent many days thinking about ending my journey and coming home. It’s hard to believe I made it through those months. I spent a lot of days crying, and trying my hardest to get through the days. I had so much anxiety over the present and even my future. A lot of days I did not even want to open my Bible or even do ministry. Ive been so stressed about what my life will look like after the race. Trying to control my future. Overthinking every life decision and thinking about how I can fix it. But after the first few weeks in Albania, I felt change. I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. And ask anyone on my team, my overall attitude and outlook has changed drastically. And I simply decided that if I’m am gonna choose to give up I need to put my all in God first. I woke up one day and decided that I am going to give him control. Because the truth is we are not meant to control our future. He is the only one who knows what life holds. And it is so much easier when we trust God to guide our steps. I started spending so much time in my Bible and now I am excited every time I open it. I am hungry for more of Him and His truth. I have prayed for joy, endurance and peace. The other day I gave my testimony in front of the church and for probably the first time in my life I did not have an ounce of fear or anxiety when I spoke in front of all those people. I am telling you life is so much sweeter when we surrender ourselves to the Lord. I wish I could make everyone understand how good the Lord has been to me over the past few weeks but I don’t think words will ever explain. Through the good and the bad, all of the changes and ups and downs, the Lord has not changed. He is there always and will never leave. I am so so excited to see the ways he will continue to change me in the coming months. 

 

As for ministry things have been a bit on the slower side but there have been some really fun days. In Nicaragua it was an Ask the Lord month which meant each day we prayed and asked God for direction. During this time we had no hosts, and no set place to stay. We had to find all of this on our own, our own ministry partners and we got to set our own schedule each day. For the first two weeks we spent our time in Bluefield’s, Nicaragua partnering with a YWAM base. To be honest that was a dark place and a dark time for our team. A lot of us were struggling. But one moment really impacted me during our time there. It was one of the first moments where I felt like God really heard my cries and saw me. It was a rainy day and we had a really difficult morning as a team. When we finished talking I went outside and sat out on a bench by the road. I was definitely having a little breakdown and was bawling my eyes out. It was raining but I did not even care cause I was just overwhelmed by everything going on. As I was crying I just prayed and begged the Lord to show me that he could hear me. I just cried out for a sign any sign. And about 30 seconds later this little old man comes over and sits next me. He spoke Spanish and no English so there was a bit of a language barrier but I was able to understand for the most part. He asked me what’s wrong but I couldn’t even really form a sentence at that point I just said “life is hard and I miss my old life”. From what I could understand basically what he said back was “life is hard but it is so beautiful, and there is so much life ahead to live”. And as he got up to walk away he said “God loves you”. I literally lost it after that and cried harder because it was truly a moment where I felt like God was showing me that he is there.

For the final week and a half we spent our time in Granada, Nicaragua. It was a bit more joyful there. One day we went and did worship in the park, many days we walked the streets and prayed over people. But I think my favorite ministry in Nicaragua was the dump ministry. On Mondays and Fridays we would go to the local dump and set up a little church and children’s service right in the thick of it. All of the workers and their children would come after work and we even got to help with the feeding program after the service. This has been one of the most effective ministries that I have been able to help with and it was so eye opening. These people had so little, babies biting on broken glass from the garbage, and children using old bottle for toys. For many of them the only meal they had for the day was the meal provided from the ministry. I was able to sit and talk with one guy and he said he had been working at the dump since he was 8 years old, he is now 32. Many of these families living off of no more than 4 dollars a day. But it was so cool to see the joy that each one of them had each day we saw them. So thankful for what they do have. The children’s laughter and creativity was so inspiring. Seeing how well they loved and cared for their families was amazing. These people are so strong, I was so thankful to see the way the Lord was moving in these people and their lives. 

 

Albania has been a totally different experience. Our first week here was the week before Christmas so we spent many days driving through the mountains to different villages. We delivered food packages, school supplies, and Christmas gifts to the children in the community.  This was such a fun week. One night the women’s Bible study group had a little Christmas celebration. We spent the night dancing around to traditional Albanian music, and lets just say our team has no rhythm haha but it was such a fun time, and the women really enjoyed teaching us some steps. Christmas Day the children sang Christmas songs, and put on a play for the church. After their performance our team sang Joy to the World, which may be one of the more embarrassing moments of my life hahah but everyone was so happy to hear us perform, even if we did forget a few words to the song. After Christmas things slowed down a bit. We have continued to do weekly visits to the villages, and our team has been in charge of running the kids program on Saturdays during church. We have also been trying to start a program for young college aged girls at the church to continue on after we leave. However, a lot of our time has been spent in prayer, and our word pressing into the Lord and preparing for the next couple of months to come. 

 

Overall things have been pretty great recently. I have been trying to focus on the good times rather than the bad so I just want to take note to some of the really great things that have happened over the past few months.  

– We got new team! And I am loving team Lilac 

– I got to see my family for a few hours in Miami on our layover from Nicaragua to Albania, such an unexpected blessing

– We also got to spend a day in Munich, Germany during our travels to Albania (the total travel time from Nicaragua to our host in Pogradec Albania was 57 hours)

– Our team got to spend 5 days in Paris, France

– Starting the young women’s program in Pogradec

– Visiting the villages has been one of my favorite things to do in Albania

– The new friends we have made

– The peace and joy the Lord has given me over the past few weeks

– AND… We are halfway done with the race! Wow can’t believe I have actually made it this far

 

As I end I want to leave with some encouraging verses that have gotten me through these past few months especially with the worry I have over my future. 

 

– Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

– John 15:5 “I am the vine; and you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

– Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you”

– Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

– And pretty much the entire books of Psalms (especially 18) and Proverbs (the books I have been reading the last month) has been a huge impact on me during this time

 

As we finish in Albania and prepare to go to Romania these are a few ways you all can be praying for me and our squad. 

– Continued joy and endurance to push forward

– Unity among teams and the squad as a whole

– Safe travels as we prepare for a long travel day or two

– No anxiety or stress

– And just that the ministry we get ready to partner with will be awesome and that we can leave a good impact on the people and communities we are about to encounter

 

As always thank you to everyone who continues to follow along with my journey, I will try to be better about posting blogs 🙂

– Daliah 

 

10 Comments

  1. I’m so proud of your perseverance and strength. No doubt the Lord has wonderful plans for your future. I will keep your petitions for continued joy, team & squad coherence, safe travels and worry free days on the remaining days of your journey. Godspeed ??????

  2. DALIAH!!! This brought tears to my eyes!! He is moving in you in such big ways and I’m so happy to be a witness to it. Wow wow wow

  3. I enjoy your posts very much. I am sorry you had a bad time but very glad you overcame it and feel better. This experience is something you will take with you wherever you go. Seeing your mom and sister was wonderful. God bless you honey.

  4. I love love loved reading this! It truly brought me so much joy to getting a glimpse into what the Lord is doing in and through you! Thank you for being vulnerable in sharing and using your experience to encourage others! Proud of you girl!

  5. Daliah,

    This blog really gave me joy. I love the way you are growing in Christ. It’s never easy to completely surrender but after you do you ask yourself why you didn’t do it sooner.

    I will be sure to keep you and your fellow Racers in prayer. God bless you all.

    I love you.

  6. Wow! Wow! Wow! Baby girl, I see so much spiritual growth! I remember you standing there waving goodbye as Daylah and I boarded the the shuttle bus…. leaving you to begin this amazing journey. Lot of “highs and lows” but you preserved through the mighty grace of God. I’m so unbelievably proud of you. Finish strong my love. Daylah and I will keep praying for your growth and safe return home.

  7. Daliah, I am so proud of you! Your perseverance, your surrender, and your love for the Lord are amazing. No doubt there will be more highs and lows to come, but the Lord has strengthened you and opened your eyes to His Kingdom—and He goes before you every place you set your foot. Keep bringing His light and sharing His love, just as you’ve been doing!

  8. Daliah… There are SO MANY things to love about this blog.
    — The little old man in Nicaragua who listened to the Lord’s voice on your behalf.
    — Your honesty and vulnerability show how confident you are becoming.
    — Your smile is powerfully contagious.
    — These seven words: “I woke up one day and decided…” feel like someone who is being transformed by the renewing of her mind.
    So proud of you, and excited for whatever’s next!!

  9. Thank you for sharing your journey! The highs and the lows. I will be praying for you to continue to seek Him first. Many Blessings!

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