....Don't let the bed bugs bite! This little bug is a bed bug. It looks very similar to a tic. It can live in almost all temperatures and can survive for an entire year without having to suck blood from a host. Bed bugs suck for 5 minutes and then return to their hiding place. They are mostly nocturnal, but they do at times feast on a host during the day time. The bug has two feeding tubes and pierces the skin. One tube injects a numbing chemical and the other sicks the blood. My friends- I have been the HOST, as well as my roommates. We are not fans of this little bug. We all counted and have over 30 bites! The bed bugs in our room are well fed!!! Just think, if 5 girls have 30 bites, that means 150 little bed bugs are quite full.
The discovery of the bed bugs:
We were making our bed and found the shell of a bug (thinking at first it was a real bug) and decided to google it on Teresa's phone. It was at this time we started to connect the dots. We didn't have a mosquito problem (which didn't add up anyway because we never saw a mosquito in our room) we had BED BUGS! They shed their skin often and that's what we had found. The bites usually don't show until after a week of being bitten. It made complete sense. We had been in a temporary room for the first two weeks of project, and had recently moved into our new room with tile flooring! I was the first to start showing signs of bites, and then Teresa started showing bites a few days later. Eventually we ALL had bites after about 9 days of being in our new room. Those little bugs WON! We now have moved into a new room, again, and had to wash every article of clothing we own because they like to lay eggs in clothing. SICK. I'd like to give those bugs a piece of my mind! We are SO thankful to be in a new room now, bed bug free (we hope) :). God definitely is soveriegn even in the bed bug circumstances! We are the only room who had bed bugs- surely he's wanting to grow us in patience! The cool thing is the bed bugs really have made our room a lot closer. It was frustrating missing out on a few project activities to move and wash all of our clothes. But we were all going through it together. There was a guys room who served us in such a huge way- it was really humbling. They took away time from their d-group and excorted us to the laundry mat for a couple of hours. When we got back they asked us if they could help move us into our new room so we wouldn't have to do it the next day. I really think they were genuinely joyful helping us too! What awesome brothers in Christ God has blessed us with. I can learn a lot from them.
Mom and dad came to visit me parents weekend. It was a great time to catch up with them and just be loved by them. I really wish I could have had more time to spend with them, but it was just at the right time and God is such a provider in giving that sweet time with them. I am so blessed to have parents that walk with Him and can give me Godly encouragement and counsel. I take that for granted. We went to one of our favorite Florida restaurants- Carrabas! The waitress was so fun! Mom and dad wanted me to show them what I had been doing a lot here- contact evangelism. They wanted me to share with this girl. I asked them is they were Christians, they said yes. I told them it's their call as well to witness to her :) So in a group effort we loved on her and built a relationship with her. I have her number and we are meeting when she gets back into town to hang out and see a movie! I can't wait to spend time with her and see how God will use our friendship.
As far as my update with Michelle, we text often and she is doing well. We are hanging out this Monday, so please pray for our time together. I really want our friendship to grow! She is such a sweet girl!
God has really just been showing me His greatness and my need for the Gospel, and I am so thankful for that. I'm quick to forget my need for Him and start to look for sufficiency in myself. But He quickly show me truth! I think something that has recently just "wowed" me is the fact that there is no such thing as me drawing far from God in turns of distance, which is what I use to measure my relationship with Him a lot of times. In reality, He lives in me. Literally. I am finding that I don't want to leave my eyes off His throne. I constantly want to be at His feet, face down, in the light of His glory. I don't want to quench His Spirit within me. My quiet times shouldn't end with me walking away from His throne after spending it there, but remaining in Him.
"But you, O Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations... But you remain the same, and your years will never end" (Ps. 102:12, 27)
That is who I want to know more- I just want more of Him.
2 comments:
Hi Sis,
I'm really sorry you and our other sisters got bit by those bed bugs. That is not cool. The hotel should have fixed that problem by now. When I was there two years ago a couple girls were in a room in which that happened to them. I am glad you guys got a new room and great of our brother's to serve you guys like that. What was your guys' reaction when you first saw the shell? Did you guys smash it, scream, or zoom in with interest (or do all three)?
It is cool your parents put you on the spot like that (easy for me to say from my vantage point). When you said "They wanted me to share with this girl. I asked them is they were Christians, they said yes. I told them it's their call as well to witness to her :)"
Did you mean they were your parents? I read it as you saying to them - you're Christian's too, don't single me out here. Is that right?
Also, the girl you built a relationship with, was she from Evansville? Or, is she from there and you guys are gonna see a movie there in FL?
(Last question) Who is Michelle?... actually, I read some from the post you had on your starbucks meeting. That is really cool she is from Hati. That is really cool you have had the chance to connect with someone from another country. I just learned this past week that Crossroads church is sending 500,000 meals to Hati sometime soon. Really cool huh? God is so good. When I think about the destruction that happened there it makes me think of Ps. 103:8 that not only is He merciful but is also gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy (or abounding in love in the ESV). Wow. So awesome and good.
I am a slow reader so I'll have to read the rest of your time with Michelle at starbucks and the other posts another time with a test tomorrow and a final thursday. I will surely pray for you and Michelle’s friendship though (even though it is Wednesday).
You are right, our great God somehow lives within us and we don't have to go anywhere. How does He do that? The One who is bigger than all the whole universe dwells within us. I suppose that is why we have the word Awesome..Awe..some. Something I don’t really get, but can comprehend a little. The last part of what you shared reminded me of the new Casting Crowns songs At Your Feet and To Know You. Good stuff.
Blessings to all you guys there. Your posts and hearing from some brothers down there have been encouraging to me so thanks for sharing my friend! : ) Keep pressing on (Phil. 3:12) with your guys’ eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith that you may endure to the end; and, do not give up doing what is good that you may reap a harvest of blessing in due season if you do not give up.
Your brother in Christ,
Ben
Wow. Sounds like all is going well (minus the critters in the bed) God is really using you and He is using others to grow you into the bride he created you to be. How exciting is that? I bet he is thinking, "see that girl, Jordie - I just love that girl - she's mine!"
Keep seeking and following! Have you seen Mickey to give him a "high 4" for me? and have you been flossing young lady?
love you much,
Aunt Robin
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