1000 Days

I noticed today that it has been over a year since my last blog post, so I figured it was time to post an update. A lot has happened in the last year! First of all, I moved from Saipan and accepted a job working for the Micronesia Mission office in Guam. Second and even more exciting, I have a girlfriend! We met in Tennessee this last summer and I am so thankful that she is a part of my life. There will be future posts with stories and lessons I have learned in the last year, but for this post I want to focus on my last 1000 days as a missionary.

It is hard to believe that it has been just over 1000 days since I first landed in Saipan almost 3 years ago. When I hit that milestone on Monday, I thought back to my first day on the island. The people were friendly and the trees and water were beautiful. There were brightly colored flowers everywhere! The sun was shining brightly and the air was fresh, and the only thing on my mind was….. How can I get home? Oh how I wanted to leave! Many of you may know this but for those of you who don’t, leaving my good job and moving to Saipan (a place most people have never heard of) was not something I wanted to do. While I had prayed and felt convicted that Saipan was where God wanted me to be, I was still praying for God to get me out of it somehow. Even before I boarded my plane on July 3, 2017, I was praying for something to fall through, or something to come up that would keep me from going. I loved living and working at Rio Lindo Academy, the place that had been my home for the last 25 years. I had a good job, with prospects of being promoted and I had a house lined up for me. Finally I would get to be on my own! As fun as living with mom and dad was, I was ready to be independent. I had my closest friends all within a few miles of me with some even closer. I did not want to leave the comforts of the only place that had ever really been my home. But I put all that aside and with no intervention in sight, I boarded the plane and started the 26-hour string of flights to Saipan. If you are interested in reading some of my first posts they can be found here. 

It took me about 3 months before I finally stopped praying to be sent home. I remember asking the principal many times if I could be fired, sometimes joking and sometimes very serious. In those three months I learned many lessons, mainly ones about trusting God. In those 3 months, I learned that God had sent me there for a reason and that He was using my time in Saipan not only to teach me things, but to mold me into someone who can more effectively be used by Him. I had to let go of what I thought I wanted for myself in order to accept the beautiful gift God had for me. My time in Saipan turned out to be one of the greatest experiences of my life. I have grown so much since I first arrived, and I have learned so much. I learned more about leadership. I learned to conquer my fear of speaking up front. Mostly... I learned how to be a better teacher. Kinda... I grew my maintenance skills and IT skills in ways I never thought I could overseas. I learned how to adapt and live in uncomfortable situations. I learned how to deal with being away from my family for long periods of time. I learned the importance of a regular devotion life and keeping God first and foremost in my life. Most importantly I learned to trust God, in all things big and small.

Just for fun I decided to answer a few questions that reflect on my time overseas.  

1. What is the biggest lesson God has taught me?

The biggest thing I have learned is to trust in God. So many times in my life I have looked at a situation and would just get upset or angry only to see later that the very thing I couldn't understand was needed to help me In the future. Trust in God ALWAYS. He knows best. Proverbs 3:5-6

2. What was a job I was given that brought me the most satisfaction and joy?

I would have to say any job when there was a problem or issue that I could solve, even the ones that took extra time. Also whenever I could help someone with personal problems not related to my job. When the little things I did could bring joy to others, that is what brought me the most joy, especially during the typhoon.

3. What was the most memorable moment of my time there?

I have had so many memorable moments but the one that gets the prize has to be the experience with Typhoon Yutu.

4.  In what way if at all has my view of God’s character changed?

I would have to say, as much as it shames me to admit, that my view on how God sees us has changed. Before Saipan and now Guam, there was a part of me that felt that God wanted us to do certain things, behave certain ways, or that He would answer our prayers in certain ways, because He was the God of the Universe and all his reasons were, “because I said so”. Now I see more clearly than ever before that He has guidelines for us because He loves us and wants the absolute best for us. He asks us to behave in certain ways because by doing so we live the best life we can live. He asks us to refrain from certain things not because He is keeping something from us, but because He is keeping us from something that will hurt us. God knows what's best for you and me because He created us. Isaiah 55:8-9

These last 1000+ days have been the best of my life, I have had opportunities to learn things and I have met some amazing people. I have had the privilege to travel to places I never thought I would get to see. My time overseas made me realize that there is more than just mexican food restaurants. #Thaifoodisthebest! I got to volunteer working at the Adventist radio station JoyFM. I got to be a part of many projects and events and helped to further the work of God.  I am so incredibly thankful for my time overseas. I am thankful for the lessons I have learned and I’m even thankful for the hard times because they made me grow as a person. And I am so incredibly thankful that God did not answer my plea to go back “home.” God is good and his ways are best. Even though I didn’t think this was something I wanted, God knew that it was going to be one of the best experiences of my life. I am so thankful that I listened to Him.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

When I first got to Saipan I did a blog answering questions people had. I thought it might be fun to do that again as I am beginning to wrap up my time here. So if you have any questions for me you can Facebook message me, email me, (jonriddle33@gmail.com), or comment below and if I get enough questions I will do another answered questions blog.

Until the next post, God Bless, and have a wonderful weekend!