I cannot believe we only have 17 days until the World Race is over. 17 days and I’m back home in good ole’ Michigan with the friends and fam I’ve missed oh so much. That’s nuts! Sometimes I get wrapped up in looking at pics from throughout the race and this time it led to me writing a blog of what I’ve seen the Lord do the past 11 months. Enjoy!
some sweet boys we met randomly in lira, uganda <3
As we’ve made our way from country to country, we’ve had conversations with everyone from the president of Honduras to the homeless all over the world. In Ukraine, my team and I learned to become a family after only meeting a few weeks prior. In Romania, we saw a woman released from a demons grasp as she laughed in the enemies face and rejoiced in the Lord’s faithfulness.
our lovely family in romania!
sleeping on the floor at the buchrest train station after we missed our train…luckily, i pulled an all nighter the previous night so i was sleepin like a baby!
At family camp in Ireland, we saw lives transformed by our Fathers love after only a week…I can’t tell you how often I think about those kids that I fell in love with and the priceless memories made, like cutting out paper shapes with my lovely friend Caithlin for very first talent show act J
love this girl so much!
In Kenya, we held impromptu church services for the little boys and girls that couldn’t afford to be in school…and getting dropped off at the wrong place may have something to do with it, too haha 😉 In Uganda, tears fell from my eyes when the ‘poor’ church community we served alongside wanted to help those less fortunate and decided to take an offering for us on our last day with them. In Tanzania, we saw a non-responsive 8 yr. old boy become fully restored to complete health in a matter of hours after praying the Lord’s healing power over him. In Tanzania, we freely sang and danced in the middle of the woods as the grown men, women and children swung their palm leaves high above their heads for the Lord.
they looked better on him anyway 😉
hanging out with the little ones at the orphanage 🙂
hanging out with all our new friends in sumbawanga, tanzania
such an amazing pastor…i was able to give a testimony about a boy healed in africa at her church in el salvador and the congregation welcomed us with open arms and prayed for us before we left <3
In Thailand, we walked through the slums by candlelight singing Christmas carols with the little children. The kids have come to excitedly anticipate the woman from the US living in Thailand by herself for 24 years walking through the slums everyday to provide food and health treatments when they would’ve gone without. We also got to know, love and pray for Belle and other women and men working in the sex trade industry as they try to support their families the only way they know how. In Cambodia, we saw a student from our English class demonstrate her faith when she asked questions about Jesus Christ and our faith so that the other students would have the opportunity to hear the gospel for the very first time. We walked into Vietnam boldly and blindly as we relied on the Lord’s providence to guide us and keep us safe – throughout the month, He provided an abundance of food, shelter, friends and countless opportunities to spread the Good News in a closed country.
the family that fed us and gave us their beds when we had no where to sleep and no food to eat*
trying some meat thing wrapped in a leaf that our friends brought over for us …despite what our smiles may be telling you, it did not taste good 😉
making my way across part of the waterfall on our way to work on the mountain…today that rope was gone thanks to a storm but we still made it across! hooray!
In Honduras, we lived with a man that is living out his faith everyday in one of the most dangerous communities in the country- while the world looks at him as if he was out of his mind and at the community as if it were hopeless – we have seen the Lord’s faithfulness as entire families that were addicted to paint thinner have given their lives over to Jesus.
Tony and Aroni making signs with bible verses to hang around the farm
anyone thirsty??
my amazing team surprised me with chicken alfredo, a pinata, jack johnson, funfetti cake AND banana splits for my birthday in Honduras! If that doesn’t make a person feel loved, I don’t know what does!
welcome to world race transportation!
In El Salvador, we lived with an amazing family that showed us what it looks like to sacrifice your time, your family, your home, your everything to serve those serving the Lord around the world.
Pan y Choclate ministry – serving bread and soup/hot chocolate to the homeless in el salv <3
we tried surfing for the first time in el salvador 🙂
our last time seeing Maria…love this precious woman <3
the squad during a surprise get together thanks to our amazing contacts 🙂
the inside of a volcano looked much different than i was imagining!
Rose and I thought it would be a GREAT idea to have a brownie eating contest…
this is as far as we got before we both on the floor with stomachaches! haha…i was so close, i wanna rematch!
In Guatemala, I’m learning what it means to walk as a daughter of Christ and to look solely to Him for my identity.
jonathan ‘the coopster’ beckman, ashley, lili, jess and i making our way around panajachel, guatemala 🙂
what are the chances i’d meet a guy with my name tattooed on his back at a waterfall in the middle of a jungle in el salv?
I’m learning what it means to fight for my team. I’m learning the power of prayer. I’m learning how faithful the Lord is. I’m learning of the Lord’s incomprehensible love for us. I’m learning how to sit in His presence. I’m learning how to depend on Him and how to give my burdens to Him instead of carrying the weight myself. I’m learning how to let the Spirit lead me instead of my schedule. I’m learning that we are to care for those in need, not out of our abundance, but out of our everything. I’m learning that all the world really needs is love, sweet love. I’m learning to continually put myself in uncomfortable, vulnerable situations so I am not relying on myself but I am relying on my God, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth to provide and protect.
*As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Eph 4:1-6
ok, enough monkeying around….
Love you all!! and I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOOOOU!
