STYLE STORY: EASTER

Easter is my favorite time of year. In style, I love that everyone wears their Sunday pastel best and I always loved shopping for an Easter dress when I was little. But truly I love Easter because the meaning behind all the celebration is the cornerstone of my purpose in life and the whole reason for my mission trip to Kenya. I'll be sharing stories from my trip over the next few posts, so here's the first.

As we landed in Kenya, my heart was full of dissonant emotions. Yes, I was excited and eager to serve the people in Kenya, but I also feared inadequacy and the unknown. Not only was I in a new environment, but I would also be encountering new diseases that are rarely seen in developed countries. These thoughts led me to think, "What am I doing here? I am not enough..."

But as we encounter Easter, it's a much needed reminder of why those feelings I felt were completely off track. As Galations 2:20 states, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." I was reminded that Christ in me is more than enough!

In my earlier Kenya post, I mentioned that we would not be making drastic changes to the cycle of poverty or to the lack of adequate health care in Kenya. However, I knew that there was a reason I was sent to Kenya. Not for my medical knowledge, but to shape my heart for God's people around the world. So as I woke up the morning of our first clinic day, yes, I did feel anxious, but the fear of inadequacy was stripped away. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that God does not give us spirits of fear or timidity, but of boldness and love. So that day I put on my scrubs, placed my stethoscope around my neck and donned the most important accessory, Love.

That day we saw 400+ patients, but the day flew by and it was all by God's grace. You would think that when you pour out love to others that you would eventually be running on empty, but by the end of that day, I felt so full to the brim. It was a good reminder that you can never love too much when you're made of it.

Photographer: Anthonie Arboleda

SHOP MY LOOK:

Dress: Anthropologie (Similar)

Bag: Kate Spade (Similar)

Shoes: BCBG (Similar)

Necklace: Kate Spade (Similar)

Earrings: Rocksbox (Get 1 month FREE with code joannaxoxo)

Chicago, need a place to celebrate Easter Sunday? Join me at Park Community Church! We have 4 Good Friday services, a Sunrise service and 11 Easter services! Let me know if you have any questions :)