Lesson Three: The Two Week Rule

This summer I was blessed with an absolutely incredible job with even more incredible people. I loved the environment and it was such an amazing experience. One of the best perks to the job was my boss. He goes to my church back at home and he is a God-fearing man. I remember one day at work we were talking about Austria and adjustments that I was having to make in my life and he said this to me, “You know I’m a firm believer that in every situation you have to give it two weeks. It doesn't matter what the situation is; just give it two weeks and you’ll know if it’s working out or not.

At first I didn't know what to think. It didn't make much sense to me and I couldn't figure out why two weeks was the magic number. I now realize that I didn't get it then because until now, I had never been in a situation that really forced me to rely solely on Jesus. I had never really needed to give anything time. I had never used the Two Week Rule.

In Austria I have been lonely and homesick. I have felt like there was nowhere to turn. At home if I had a bad day, it was easy. All I had to do was go curl up in bed, maybe say a prayer or two, and then vent to my mom. But here there is no mom. No dad. No friends. Not even the comfort of my own home or bed. Nowhere to turn. Except wait. There is that one guy who suffered through a lot worse than missing home. That one guy who gave His life by the will of His own Father so that I could be set free. Oh yeah, that guy could probably help me.

So sure enough, about two weeks into my little adventure here, I hit a wall.

I feel like a running theme in my life has been the issue of trusting God. I have always known it was an issue and I think it has something to do with the control freak in me. I want to handle it all myself and in my mind, I can.

So as soon as I feel comfortable with a situation I say, “You know what, God, why don’t you just scoot on over and let me sit in the driver’s seat. I think I can handle this one.”

Sometimes God lets me drive.

I can tell you, however, that ten time out of ten, I crash the car and total it.

So that’s what I did this week. I finally thought that I had gotten the hang of this whole Austria thing when I got myself into a little fender bender.

I was selfish. I was so caught up in my own world. I missed home. I wanted my internet to work in my room. I wanted to see this. I wanted to do that. I wanted this time to take that hike. I, I, I, me, me, me, myself, myself, myself. I didn't care what worked for the family and what their schedule was like and I failed to remember why I am here: to help them. After all, they are the ones paying me and giving me free room and board.

I began to butt heads with the family and then right on cue, there was a relationship at home that needed mending, and soon enough, my fender bender was a full head on collision.

Thankfully though, before my accident became fatal, God stepped in.

He picked me up out of the driver’s seat, set me in the back, middle seat with my feet on the hump, and buckled me in.

“Hold on kid,” He said, “it’s going to be a bumpy ride, but don’t worry, I got this.”

“I got this.” You know why God’s got this?

Oh I know. Because He’s God.

Because He’s the one who ordained everything that has ever and will ever happen.

Because He has a perfect plan for you and for me.

Friends, there is serous comfort in that truth.

Throughout these past few days, I have learned a lot. I have learned to go with the flow. I have learned that God will work it out. I have learned that all things happen for a reason and for good as long as I serve Him.

And I have learned that I am one blessed girl.

Just two weeks in, and I know that this is going to be a good experience. I have made friends (some my age and one incredible sixty-year-old woman if you were curious) and I have grown in more ways than can fit in this post.

It’s only been two weeks. It feels like two years.

And so it’s true. The Two Week Rule really does exist.

I’m not saying that I am totally settled. That two weeks is all it took and now I don’t miss home at all and everything is rainbows and butterflies.

But two weeks is all it took to open my eyes.

Two weeks is all it took to broaden my horizons.

Two weeks of ups and downs.

There will still be ups and downs. But after going down, there is nowhere else to go...but up.

Onward and upward.

2 Peter 5:10, 11

Lesson Two: The Comfort Zone

I have a very specific comfort zone.

If you've only met me once or even if we're acquaintances or better yet half-way-friends, you might think that I would do just about anything. I mean...I'm about as outgoing as it gets. I'm always down for an adventure. I'm even kinda-sorta-maybe easy going when it comes to deciding what to do on a Friday night. There's not much I won't say. Confrontation does not bother me in the least...in fact I actually quite enjoy reasoning with people and solving problems. I'm an extrovert to the core. I'm loud. I'm crazy. And sometimes I'm a little obnoxious.

HOWEVER comma, if you really know me well, and I mean really know me like how my family or my best friends know me, than you know that there is more to me than that.

Beneath that outgoing, outspoken, and, "I'm going to go sky-diving someday" exterior, even I have a comfort zone. Shocking, I know.

I always knew that I had a comfort zone and I even knew certain things that were definitely not inside it. But until this past week, I was not aware of how small my little bubble in life really was.

I thought I had accomplished a lot in my life. I mean I've been to Scotland, I've been to Italy, I've traveled around the United States, I've finished high school, I've always had a number of good friends, I've maintained a full-time job, I've jumped off of 45 ft cliffs, I've done a good amount of public speaking, and I've had a heck of a lot of fun doing it all!

That's nothing to be ashamed of, but when I really step back and look at it from my point of view in my little room in this huge house at the top of this tiny town way up in the mountains in Austria, 5539 miles from home and 9 hours ahead of most of you reading this, the list looks a little smaller than I originally thought.

So you're probably thinking, "Okay we get it, you have a comfort zone just like every other person in this world."

Okay so in my week in Austria, I have learned two main things that do not fit in my comfort zone.

First, flexibility. When I said I was sort of easy going earlier...I was kidding myself. I'm not easy going. I like routine and I freak out when things don't go according to plan. I don't roll with the punches very well.

So naturally I panicked after meeting the family that I live with and I realized that their English is much more broken than I thought, my work hours are not what I expected, and the kids are not as easy to handle as I hoped.

But I can already feel the Lord making me more flexible.

Second, one downside of being a complete extrovert is that I can't handle being alone for more than an hour at a time. I love people and my energy comes from being with them.

Nothing could have prepared me for the amount of solitude time I have here. It scared me to death.

But I am learning to redeem that time. To not sit in my room and dwell on how much I miss home, but rather, to read the Word, listen to sermons, and talk to Jesus. I am so excited because I have already grown so much spiritually and it's only been 6 days.

So I am finding that the first goal that God has for me here, is to shatter my comfort zone. To stretch me beyond what I can handle in my own strength. To teach me to truly rely on Him and to do everything by His strength.

I am so excited to see what the Lord does in my life.

In the meantime, a friend or two would be nice.

2 Corinthians 4:7-12

Austrian Adventures: Lesson One

My dad always told me that God always answers prayers in one of three ways: Yes, no, or wait. Personally, I would rather God just close the door and say, “no” then tell me to wait. If you know me at all, then you know that I absolutely, positively HATE waiting. I’m impatient and I’ll be the first to admit it.

Imagine this for a second: you live a simple life. You’re a high school student with not a care in the world and the best family in the universe. Literally. Suddenly, high school ends. You are thrown into the real world without a word of warning and reality hits hard. After a summer of working full time, it’s time to do something with your life. Instead of going to college like any normal kid, you get the brilliant idea to go to a tiny town in Austria and be an Au Pair for six months for three rambunctious children who don’t speak a word of English.

Sounds like a genius plan, right?

So that’s what I did. I packed entirely too much, jumped on a plane, and flew to Austria. All alone. First time I have ever been somewhere without anyone I know in my whole eighteen years of existence.

It was adventure time.

On a more serious note, I have to be very honest. I have been in Austria for three days now and let me just shoot really straight: they have been terrifying days and some of the hardest days of my life. All I have wanted was to go home, snuggle up in my very own bed, and talk to my mom. I love my mom. I don’t think I have ever been away from her for more than two weeks at a time. So back to the point. I've been a wreck. Every chance I have gotten to go curl up in my bed and cry in my room on the top floor of this four story house…I have taken it. You may think I’m overly dramatic and maybe I am. But my point is that this has not been easy so far.

Okay back to this whole “waiting” issue. Through everything in the past few days, I have prayed one thing at least 100 times. “Lord, give me a peace which only comes from you.” I haven’t been feeling that peace. I have been fed up with 4-year-old temper tantrums, 2-year-old hissy fits, and baby food on my turquoise skinny jeans…but no peace. And until yesterday afternoon, I had begun to think that God had said, “No.” Silly me.

After church yesterday morning, I went on a hike with my host family. We drove all the way to the top of the ski hill and began climbing from there. We walked with another family, who have two twin boys. My family has one boy and twin girls so we were hiking with two 5-year-olds, one 4-year-old, and two 2-year-olds.

Really? All I wanted was a little peace!

But as we reached the top, for the first time in three days, my mind was not on home. Instead I was basking in the beautiful creation. I was taking in the crisp fall air. I was in awe of the glory of the mountains that surrounded me. I was thankful for it.

And then it hit me.

What could be more peaceful?

The Lord had once again taught me a lesson and it was a simple one: wait.

I’m not saying that my home sickness is cured and that the next six months will be no problem. I don’t even like to think about how long it will be until I see my family and friends for two short weeks at Christmas. (80 days, if you were wondering.) I have full confidence that the Lord will continue to teach me lesson after lesson after lesson. But as for now, I have conquered the first one by His strength.

Lesson one: Be thankful. Be patient.

Psalm 121