Sometimes on the World Race ministry starts the minute you arrive.
Saturday, November 1, 2014, Teams ROAR and Starfish arrived at Viente-ocho de Julio Iglesia. This, we found out, would not only be our ministry for the month, but also our home. (ROAR and Starfish are staying at the same site but serving different churches. We, ROAR, are working with Viente-ocho) Only our “home” was currently filled with young adults for a leadership conference. We had arrived for the last two days. No worries, we stowed our stuff and joined the group for breakfast. Our contact asked that we break up and mingle so the students would have the opportunity to meet us and practice English, vise-versa I’m sure. From there we headed into the first session of the day. After some worship it was decided that the World Racers should be broken up evenly into the teams. I and three other ladies were placed on Azul (blue). Everything was in Spanish, but I learned something; I actually understand more Spanish than I thought I did. I’m sure it was God though. The sessions were about being a good COAH. The morning one was about listening well and how to show you are listening. We even participated in an exercise in listening well. At the end of services the teams were reminded of a talent show that night after service.
After lunch team ROAR crashed. We were free until the evening so we slept. After waking we prepped for our talent that evening and headed to the next session. The talent showed started later.
Somehow or other I ended up being in a planned and practiced talent for my team. Only problem…I was not part of the planing or practicing. I guess it turned out okay.
After the talent show was a bonfire, you know just like at home. Most the girls headed to bed ( I don’t blame ’em it had been a long day), but Kai and I stayed up and joined in some bonfire games. I met more girls and tried to learn Spanish words while teaching some English. One of the girls gave me a chocolate bar (instant friendship maker there you know ;)) and begged me to stay up later. I finally pulled myself away at about 5am, but it was so worth it.
The next morning we learned more about how to listen and show the person we are speaking to that we are interested in what they have to say (maybe in a counseling/advising setting). Then we practiced. I got to practice with two Peruvian girls. It was a lot of fun and a little hard as they shared, and I was supposed to ask questions and give advice, but in the end it was good. One of the girls and I actually had a lot in common and we were able to encourage each other. It was a time of growing.
The lesson and reminder during this time was that God is always working. I was really tired, but He still had ways I could be a part of His work and it was Him that gave me strength! I’m so excited to see what He has in store for this month!!!
Through Christ,
Brooke
