Being in South Africa has been more than a blessing; by far this has been my favorite month of the race. As I reflect back on the month, I think about all the things the Lord has done and the many prayers he has answered and I am in awe. A gift that I have felt so much growth in over the past four months has been the gift of prayer. As God has began to show me that this month was a month of freedom. A month that we had no contact, no direction and no clue what to expect. He also showed me this month was a month of freedom in prayer. He was asking me to pray outside of my comfort zone, outside of what I knew he could do, and outside of the box I put his power in. So I begin to pray the prayers that scare me. Usually in prayer I come to the Lord asking for the things I need and move on. I pray the little things like “God will you help me to get more support” but what I really should be praying is “God let me be fully funded”. As I began to pray, “God give me big donations, let me be fully funded, give us 200 contacts, provide housing and food”. These things began to happen (I am sure you aren’t like me and you knew they would happen) but to me I was in shock almost. I knew the God of the universe had all the power, resources and funds but he listens to me and hears me! What?!?!?
I am here to say I am not fully funded yet but I will tell you I got some big donations. I am now at $12,000. When I started this race I never thought I could reach $15,500 but now I only need $3,500 to be fully funded. If that doesn’t show you how big our God is, I don’t know what will. I don’t have the resources, the money or the time to fundraise but he does! He also provided us two homes to live in this month with amazing families. We have had some of the best food and great accommodations free of charge because people wanted to bless us and heard our prayers. I have met men and women that are doing more ministries then I have ever done my whole life and love every second of it. I have met people that have nothing but know that having God is enough. The way in which I have grown in my trust and dependence this month is something I have always longed for but until I was put in situations where I had nothing, did I fully rely on him.
I have absolutely and completely fallen in love with South Africa and the people that live here. This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. I have been accepted, loved and adopted by more families than one. I have loved whole heartily, prayed passionately, sought fully and cried openly this month. I can’t even describe how we got to the places we got to or met the people we met because it was that miraculous. As I sit here with one more day before I head to debrief then off to Swaziland, I reflect on this month with pure joy and knowing I petitioned for every big thing and my God came through in big ways. Let the tears start and the good byes commence, oh South Africa how you have my heart. Swaziland you have big shoes to fill but I know God has something big there to. I will continue to pray big prayers and never stop asking because I want to see everything that the Lord has for me.
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