Hebrews 13:17

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. 

Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)

Coming to Guatemala I saw many challenges ahead of me. What I didn't see coming was the struggle of being under consistent authority again. After four years at college doing whatever I pleased whenever I pleased, it was a wake up call to be told when to wake up, when to eat, when to turn the lights off, and everything in between. On my way here, I tried to picture what it would be like. I thought about all the structure and rules laid out in our Training Handbook. It sounded like music to my ears. I love rules and I love following them. So why was it such a struggle when I got here???
Last week God answered this question very loudly and very boldly. Pride. Pride is the reason why this was so hard. I was given the topic of humility to teach on in our woman's bible study. God opened my eyes to how much I'm lacking in this area. Oh how this shows in my moaning and groaning when Miss Patti looks down and tells me I have the wrong shoes on! My pride wants to give her a look and tell her I was told sandals with straps were fine but instead I have to submit to her exhortation.
Now that it is almost four weeks later I wholeheartedly understand why I should have had tennis shoes on that day and that Miss Patti was just looking out for my best interest. Not only that, but I have realized that God has given her the duty to look out for my best interest. If I challenge her in this, not only am I disobeying God myself, I am causing her trouble as she is doing the job He gave her as this verse warns against. Finishing up week six in Guatemala, I'm still learning to submit to authority with joy, but I am getting there. He has shown me the heart behind why the leadership has the rules they have and why it is advantageous for us to submit. It is such a blessing that I was able to come into this environment after college and learn this important lesson.