ABROAD AND STILL WITH GOD

BY SARAH OAKES

For my last semester in high school, I spent three months living in three different countries — Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. I was in Central America, studying on a CELL (Center for Ecological Living and Learning) program with a focus on sustainability through community, I took Spanish classes, cultural and history classes, sustainability classes, and did service work. My dad was actually running the program, so I was able to see him during the trip, but I was staying with "home stay" families for part of the time in rural areas, observing how people in developing countries live.

Even though I was so excited to be on this adventure, at the beginning of the program I was feeling homesick and having persistent digestive problems. The people on the program became concerned and told me that I should visit a doctor. My situation kept me from joining in all the activities freely, and I realized that I needed to pray about the fear of being so far away from home, while feeling so uncomfortable physically.

There have been many times in the past when I've turned to God to find spiritual answers and healing. So that's why I knew that my situation could be handled through Christian Science. I also talked with my dad, and he gave me some inspiring thoughts to consider. He began praying for me, too.