A recent letter from Maoz Israel (an international ministry with a congregation in Israel) brought home to me, once more, some of the difficulties you face in other lands that we, in America, cannot understand at all.  Here’s the paragraph that grabbed me:

As we began new outreaches, we knew we would have to find believing Israeli employees.  Because of the very tiny pool of believers in all Israel, nearly everyone we hired we had to send for job training – from computer courses to college education.

While some of the struggles of this ministry are due to the small number of believers in the labor force, your issues include anything from government red tape that makes ours look non-existent to an overall shoddy work ethic, from a requirement to shop for groceries daily to “forced” fasts because of the only food available being contaminated.  I know these only touch the tip of the iceberg.  When you stop and think about it, isn’t it amazing to realize how much God has worked patience and peace in you?  But then, He has you in that place to minister His love and grace to the people and to show forth His glory.  He knew what He was getting when He signed you on!  And He’s not sorry at all – even in the things you haven’t quite mastered yet!

I’m curious.  What are the things that you remember as having been difficult for you to adapt to early on in your nation of choice, but that are just part of everyday living now?