And we’re living in prayer!
As we head to a new continent and hit the halfway point, I thought you’d like to hear some highlights (good and bad) of the first half of the race!
Costa Rica:
Painted a school and their playground.
Worked in an elderly home and nearly cried when I left the last time, which is bizarre because I never liked it before.
Went to Jaco beach.
Used public transportation for the first time.
Gave my testimony for the first time.
Rode on a motorcycle for the first time and burned my leg that would then take a whole month to heal. I was quite proud of how well I took care of it.
Rode a horse for the first time.
Started to understand some Spanish.
Swam in a river (that had fish in it!)
Nicaragua:
Stayed in a hostel for the first time. Also took an outdoor shower and it was the most beautiful thing ever to be surrounded by plants and see the stars all at the same time.
At debrief I made the choice to denounce Fear and all its lies- in front of the whole squad. I’ve been living in greater freedom ever since, and started my journey in understanding the power of words.
Did door to door evangelism and became more bold in sharing my heart and what the Father put on it. One hundred and thirty people accepted Jesus that month.
We got to distribute 120ish Bibles to the villages in Chinendaga.
Climbed a volcano and was sure I was going to die by being blown off. Was moved to tears when I was resting (one of many times) and looked out to see just how tiny I am in this world and know that God still cares about me more than the magnificent mountains.
Slid down said volcano.
Learned more Spanish.
Rode in the back of trucks every day, and some evenings. Evenings were the best because of the cool air and the amazing display of stars.
Learned to appreciate cold showers, as it was consistently 100°F+ every day that month.
Played with disabled children for the first time and fell in love.
Read two of my poems out loud on front of C Squad.
Honduras:
Started using the Spanish I knew here and there.
Led a women’s night where I shared a portion of my testimony on identity. Still my favorite day of the race so far.
Developed relationships with people we met in Honduras – this was the first time I allowed myself to develop relationships and not be closed off.
Cried leaving Val Paraiso, Honduras. This was the first time I cried leaving a place- especially because of the people I was leaving.
Played a lot of Nerts (card game- mix between speed and solitaire)
Attempted robbery at gun point in Tegucigalpa while in a taxi with two other teammates. God showed up. No one was severely physically hurt and nothing was stolen. Because of my angle, I never saw the weapon. I’m a little skiddish in taxis now.
I gave up more things out of my pack.
I spoke on Fear and its opposite, Love, at Leadership Discipleship Weekend (LDW) in front of the whole squad. It was the most terrifying, yet freeing thing I have done on the Race as a result of debrief in Nicaragua.
Chile:
Was on an Unsung Heroes team…so I got to see a lot of Chile.
Lived in a crack house hostel for about a week. Praise the Lord it wasn’t a second longer.
The Lord did some great things in La Serena.
Some of which includes letting us meet new contacts for the Race and providing a place to sleep twice and one of those times included a five minute walk to the beach.
Watched the most beautiful beach sunset.
Met the most incredible family in Calama that I would live with in a heart beat.
Saw the Atacama desert, and wild flamingos, and wild llamas.
Watched the sun set in the Atacama desert.
Had whole conversations in Spanish.
Had my day pack stolen and thankfully dropped 10 feet away when the attempted robber was yelled at by a good stranger in the subway station in Santiago.
Team changes.
Prayed for a demon possesed man. I do not know what became of him, but his image will be in my mind forever. Please pray for “Alexander.”
Witnessed the hostel host accept Jesus at debrief. Keep praying for Claudio.
Bolivia:
Altitude sickness. For real. The whole squad. On a bus. It was terrible.
Went to the first English speaking church service since leaving the States. That was so special.
Had a cookout after church. Made me miss home.
Was delayed a week in getting our visas. That was interesting. Turns out the Bolivian government doesn’t exactly like us North Americans.
Got to see the Salt Flats.
Got to play with disabled kids again and do origami with them. They were better at it than me. Dont laugh.
Was Noah, or Noé, for a kids event at church. Had a blast playing the part as other teammates were my “sons.”
Went down the biggest slide I’ve ever seen. Got air.
Used part of an adventure day to play on the playground by myself and ended up making friends. Gary and Monica.
Roasted raw peanuts on the stove. Delish.
Made gigantic pizzas with my team for us and the host family and the translator Luis and his family.
Sang on stage during worship with my team.
Had many conversations in Spanish and even translated a page of ingredients from English to Spanish for the pastor.
Did manual labor for the first time on the Race.
Alumni squad leaders are going back to the U.S. Pray for our raised up squad leaders Erika and Allison. They’re amazing.
These are just a few of the hundreds of things I’ve been blessed to be a part of. I’ve witnessed so much of God’s hand moving in the world around me, as well as my squad, and myself. I’m literally not the same person I was when I left home…and we’re only halfway.
Lots of changes are coming. A big one is that we’re going to Europe and will no longer be in a Spanish speaking country. There’s some grieving in change, but always joy because I know God has great things in store.
Please keep me, my team, my squad, and those we touch in your prayers. Thank you for all your support!!!!
