Control and Comfort

So far more than this trip has taught me about God, it has taught me about myself. It is as if a mirror is being held up in front of my face and its soul purpose is to magnify my weaknesses and imperfections. You learn a lot about yourself when you are far away from home and all that you know and all that seems to know you. I realize more than ever that I like comfort, but even more than that I like to be able to control my level of comfort.
Last night I slept in a small room with 24 beds, each containing a person I have never met, from a country I have never been to, speaking a language I don't understand. One lady in particular from somewhere in Asia has a dreadful snoring problem. I slept very little. I was as dirty as I have ever been, not having showered for a few days and I found those things feeding frustration. I wanted comfort. Frustration becomes a huge weakness when it comes upon me because I see little else, especially the needs around me because frustration is all about me. Yesterday I read this and it came back to mind today:
"When Jesus sent the 12 to preach he said, 'Take nothing for the journey-no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave town. So they set out preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere." Luke 9:3-5
I pray that being stripped of clothes and food and money and traveling around with minimal comfort in an unusual place will change me. I pray that God will use this to show me who he is and I will see him more clearly when I am not blinded by all my comfort and when life is completely out of my control. May his Kingdom come!