Change is good ... but hard

When you move to a new country, it’s far more then your address that changes. The way I interact with people, the food I eat and even the way I pronounce my name changes (most of my students can’t pronounce Haley so my name is changed to Miss Aaley). In reality, these changes are good. I am learning to listen better, most of the food I eat consists of veggies and chicken and Miss Aaley is cooler than Haley. Even though these changes are good, they are hard.

Every day I am here, I go through a new change. One of the hardest and most frequent change is the language. Forcing my brain to translate conversations is a change. This has caused me to listen better and really focus in on what I am saying to others. I have always had the privilege of living in a place where english was the first and expected language. Being surrounded by Spanish speaking individuals also allows myself to learn more of the Spanish language. This is a perfect example of how change is good. Every day, as I learn and wrestle through the Spanish, I find myself feeling out of the conversation. At the end of a day of self-translating, I often feel very tired and have headaches, and once again the change becomes hard.

With all of this change I am experiencing, I cling onto my constants. The most important constant being Jesus… (and my parents… hi mom).

Hebrews 13 : 8

Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever.

How encouraging it is for me knowing that THE Jesus who was with me in Canada, has come with me to Guatemala. He is here when I try to translate to my class and He is here when when I am feeling left out. He is here because change is good but hard. Being able to fall back on him, feels so secure and familiar especially in a place with so much good but hard change.