Do I Really Live Here?

March 16, 2010

From Christina Melton, in Montenegro –

Hey all!

I just had my first birthday in Montenegro, which was actually a little bit harder than I expected it to be. Christmas made me miss my American family. My birthday made me miss family AND friends in the states.

Thankfully I have my adopted Montenegrin family. The night before my birthday, Violeta and I went downtown for ice cream around midnight and walked around in the cold eating it.

That’s actually a good way to meet people– walk around eating food that is not seasonally appropriate.

Slavica made an amazing cake for me, and Violeta and Lazar (who both are a tremendous help when it comes to teenage ministry) set up a little surprise for me during our teenage meeting, after which we played “Who Wants to be a Millionaire: Bible Edition.”

I am thankful for Skype and the chance to talk to family and friends in the US, and for my Montenegrin family, and for even making it to the ripe old age of 24.

The weekend following my birthday, Violeta and I went to visit our friend Helena, one of the other college-age believers, in Kotor on the coast, where she is in University. The sun FINALLY came out after several days (weeks) of rain, and we probably walked about 10 kilometers total in the two days that we were there.

Helena has a beautiful view from her roof, so we drank lemonade and played some guitar there.

Some days I think, “Do I really get to live here?”

More and more I am learning the importance of being thankful. Some days it is really easy to complain: the weather is bad, that person got on my nerves, why do I have to go to this meeting, etc.

But Phil. 2: 14-15 is pretty strong. “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you appear as lights in the world.”

Also, there is this lovely bit in 1 Thess. 5:18. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything, give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Yep. That’s pretty clear. Some days I am cold. Some days, I miss people. Some days, I would love to have a car (it’s taking so long to buy one here!). Some days, I just want everyone to just speak perfect English and stand in a proper line at the bank!!

But if we are commanded to rejoice always, then there MUST be a reason to rejoice, no matter the circumstances. My reason right now: I will always have everything I need (Phil. 4:19). Anyone who has to leave people they care about will receive back even more (Mark 10:29-30).

Granted, it doesn’t hurt that I am in the most beautiful country in the world, surrounded by people I love.