I sat in the moment I’d been waiting for the entire race. I had a plate full of delicious cultural food on my lap, a cup of real, not instant, coffee in my hand, and a reignited heart within me. I was at an orphanage for the first time since Ethiopia over a year ago, and I was alive!
We spent the month of February in Masuru, the capital city of Lesotho. Our ministry this month was what they call “Unsung Hero.” What this entailed was going out and finding quality contacts for future Racers to partner with. It was exactly what we needed after the month we endured in Zimbabwe; freedom and space to let God do His thing.
So here we are, day two on the field, at the mall getting wifi to look up potential connections, and God drops the perfect one right in our lap. White people stick out in Africa, especially white people with African children, so when three of them walk in with these adorable kids clinging to them we knew we had to say something. Long story short, these people were from Michigan and here working with a local orphanage called Beautiful Gate. They invited us to their church, we all became instant best friends, and then they had us over to visit the orphanage.
Expectations are dangerous, so I did my best to keep mine in check as we walked through the gate. As most of you know, this is one of the main reasons I joined the Race in the first place. I wanted the opportunity to work with and experience different orphanages all around the world in order to better equip and prepare me if God has me start my own in the future. So here I was, getting my first taste on the Race, and oh how sweet it was!
There are about 65 orphans at Beautiful Gate, most between the ages of 5 and under, and they hire out roughly 40 widows who work as house moms for all the children. To hear their story of God’s provision is breathtaking! One profound instance is when they were looking into moving to the location they are at now. It was perfect: great location, plenty of space, and a safe neighborhood. There was just one major obstacle; it was 1,000,000 Loti, which in USD is $150,000. So they prayed about it and trusted that if God wanted them there, He’d make it happen, and that’s exactly what He did!
They received a phone call from a lady who had just visited the orphanage a few days prior. She expressed to them how, although she didn’t understand why, she felt God telling her to give to their orphanage. The amount… exactly 1,000,000 Loti! And this is just the tip of the iceberg in regards to how God has lavishly provided their every need in perfect time!
We met them in the chapel that is on campus where they hold a midweek service with the kids every Wednesday. The pure joy and love that radiated off both the children and volunteer’s face’s was intoxicating! There was a peace in this place that it beyond description. I felt it the moment I walked through the gate, unlike anything I’ve experienced!
There are moments in life that stick with you, and this was one of those. We spent some time playing with the kids and as I sat in the baby room holding this little girl’s hand my heart re-ignited. Her eyes told a story, a story that gripped me to the core. This was God’s daughter, abandoned by the world but embraced by the Father. This was God’s beloved, no different from you or me. As I left the room she put her little hand up next to her head and watched me go.
As I reflected on this moment the vastness of the reality hit me. There are millions upon millions of children just like her all over the world holding up their hands waiting for someone to grab hold. It woke me up from my far to often self-focused mindset to the bigger picture and purpose for my life.
They made us dinner and we spent the remainder of the evening worshiping our beautiful Father and feasting with our new friends! It was so refreshing and encouraging spending time with fellow Americans out here in this bubble of South Africa that is Lesotho. The evidence of God’s sovereignty in intersecting our lives in the most improbable of ways made it all the more incredible! It was as hands down my favorite night on the Race so far, and one that had a profound impact on my life.
We visited Beautiful Gate a few more times during the month and each time was spectacular! We also had the opportunity to check out multiple orphanages and other ministries throughout the city. Our home for the month was our tents pitched on the spectacular landscape of this beautiful country overlooking a lake. In many ways it reminded me of Montana, which made me it real easy for me to feel right at home!
I’d spend my mornings out on the rocks praying and hanging out with God while gazing out at the stunning beauty of His creation. It was times like this that God used to chisel away and continue the refinement process He’s been walking me through, specifically on the Race. He opened my eyes up to the vapor that is my life here on earth, and His eternal, everlasting, and majestic nature. This realization of reality changes things. In understanding this the only thing that truly makes sense is to devote and invest all you got into the Everlasting, the One “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev. 1:8) It’s crazy how different your priorities in this world become when you dwell on the Creator of this world!
So that was my month in a quick synopsis, but before I let you go I have to share with you the cherry on top of it all! The squad spent a few days in Durbin, South Africa before flying out to the Philippines. During our short stint in this coastal city I got to the chance to literally come face to face with my lifelong biggest fear… sharks.
This was it. We got our briefing and took a raft out to a spot in the Indian Ocean that the locals call “Shark Park.” When we arrived is when this whole thing got really real, really quick for me. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever been more scared in my life. I sat on the side of the raft watching the fins of these black nose sharks circling around us as the guides kept throwing sardines in to attract them. My heart beat out of my chest. Was I really just about to willingly jump into the jaws of these creatures?
My time had come. I tightened the straps of my snorkel, put my legs over the side, and before I could talk myself out of it, I was underwater. I opened my eyes to see sharks swarming in the dark depths below me. I tried to steady my breathing. I came up for a second then back under. There it was, a black tip coming right at me with authority. I held fast, heading their advice to stay still, as it swam but a few inches past my face. That just happened! I came up again, gasping, with pure adrenaline rushing through me. I was still alive, I was still breathing!
By the end of the 30 minutes of snorkeling I’d fallen in love with these magnificent creatures. A big smile formed across my face as we made our way back to shore. I had done it, literally faced my biggest fear head on!
No better way to cap it off then with my favorite verse of all time, Joshua 1:9. “This is my command. Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”… even in shark infested waters.
