So the time has come to say adios to Costa Rica along with Central America. I am overjoyed to be moving on to Asia. Central America was not my cup of tea, but part of that was my own fault. I let myself dwell on what I was missing out on at home rather than what I was doing on the race. In the first three months I broke….no I shattered. I spent hours crying until my eyes were swollen. I spent hours missing home, friends, and family. However, the Lord met me at those hours. I cried out to him and he came and wrapped me in his loving arms and comforted me. He revealed to me amazing truths about myself that I would have never found out if I never took a jump of the deep end. I thought I would share what I learned on the first three months of my race to wrap it all up. It was a bumpy road and I definitely took on my fair share of bruises, but I am only made stronger because of it all.
Guatemala
Theme: Spiritual Warfare
Day four of living in Panajachel made me realize that I was completely out of my element. By day 7 I was ready for the World Race to be done. My eyes were opened up to all the darkness in the world. I have no words to describe our contact. He poured into us about demonology and taught us about the gifts the Holy Spirit gives. My soul was so burdened in this month because I didn’t know how to handle all that I was taking on. We were constantly on the go or doing bible studies. We were giving our all just to try to bring the Kingdom forgetting that sometimes we need time to process all that we have seen or done.
Highlights:
Falling in love with the Lopez family
Worshipping in a witch’s cave
Nicaragua
Theme: Rest
Living at CICRIN on Ometepe Island and only having to work in the garden until noon and play with the kids after dinner left the whole afternoons to seek out the Lord and find rest. The Lord would tell me again and again that it was going to be worth it. I began to find my voice of boldness and speak life into my team. I began to uncover and take hold of my gift of discernment. I also learned that the devil will attack those gifts the Lord gives and he attacked me in the form of nightmares and being unable to sleep.
Highlights:
Visiting a school for the deaf
Loving on the kids at CICRIN
Thanksgiving dinner
Hiking to a waterfall
Costa Rica
Theme: Discovery
Working with 6:8 ministries was awesome! God sure did bless us this month. We did feeding ministry, construction, tattoo ministry, prayer walks, women’s rehab, and many more things. Homesickness hit me hard this month, but I knew I jut needed to get it all out. So that’s what I did and it was good. God revealed many truths about myself to me. I loved going to one barrio and doing feeding ministry there because even though it was considered one of the most dangerous places and it was filled with darkness there were still small candles of hope and light.
Highlights:
Getting my crayon letter from God
Celebrating Christmas world race style
Operation Christmas Child
For those of you jut beginning your race let go, let the Lord fight for you. If you need to cry, cry. If you need a few minutes of alone time, speak up and let your team know. Don’t suffer in silence your team will rally and fight for you when you cannot. For those of you at home, thank you so much for you constant prayers, support, and encouragement. I can not do this with out you! Your prayers and messages of encouragement were sometimes the only thing that got me through the day. I love you all and I promise I will try to do better on writing blogs as things happen.
