You will persevere even when you are tempted to quit. Endurance, forbearance, long-suffering, patience, and perseverance are on every biblical list of the character traits of the new heart. They all involve doing what is right even when the Heat remains. Are there any places in your life where you are tempted to give up, run away, or quit? Lane and Tripp, How People Change

This is the kind of text that has haunted me for the past six months and called me back every time I wanted to slip away from the hard places. Now that we are leaving Puerto Supe, I don't think it's as quitters. It's the right decision, and moving to Pucallpa is far from giving up. Believe me, if I were running away, it wouldn't be to join the mosquitoes in the jungle!

Nonetheless, these words challenge me so deeply in our transition. My body is cracking under the stress, and I have a very long moving "to do" list. At the same time, my work here isn't over, and the way I live out these last few weeks matters. I want to hide, to give into my delusion that my life is about me and my comfort and health, to avoid all awkward moments.

I know our work here is worth more than that. "Leaving poorly" could really do some damage, and although it seems out of my reach tonight, "leaving well" could probably do a lot of good. Jesus is worth it. I'm grateful for the Holy Spirit's conviction and eager for His power in my life.

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