First continent change of the race! After being in Africa for three months, I’m not guna lie.. It was a challenging transition for me. When I entered India I was overtaken by a weird sense of fear. I’m not really sure what it was about but I was scared for our ministry and taken back by the culture shock I experienced at the beginning.
So when we arrived we spent a few days at a hostel together as a squad for LDW. It was great to be able to start off the month with a little fill up from my big awesome family. There we had a chance to worship and have some mini sessions together which was pretty great. We also got to explore Hyderabad with each other. When we were assigned our ministries, we had an orientation with an ICM (India Christian Ministries) contact and that’s where it set in for me that this was going to be a really challenging month. But I had the choice to let it be a hard and sucky month or embrace the challenge and work with the Lord on the things he’s working in me. It’s usually the hard months that turn out to be the ones where you grow the most. Weird I know.
So my team and I were sent out to do village evangelism. Yep, you read it right! If you knew me pre-race that was the one ministry that I was most scared of. But on the race, God likes to take you to those places so you can grow in every area. We were 7 hours out of Hyderabad in a town called Guntur. There we stayed in a two room apartment that was next door to our host, pastor Timothy’s apartment. So not only were we really far away from everyone else on the squad, we were being challenged physically as well. Sleeping pads and tents it was this month. I mean, we’ve been spoiled with beds the past 3 months so I guess it was about time but it was still a challenge for me and my body. But it was pretty cool having just our team around and in such close living quarters.
We had ministry 6 days a week and it consisted of going to a different village outside Guntur. We would take a Tuk Tuk anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours every afternoon/evening. When we arrived at the village we would meet the pastor there and then go door to door to pray for people in that village. The one thing that we had to adjust to was that they do things differently here in India. It seemed to be more about the number of people we prayed for rather than the relationship we built with the families in the villages. Which was hard for me because I’m all about investing in people and building relationships. But this month God taught me that He works in all different ways. He knows their stories and where their at and so when I prayed for all these people, I would literally say “Lord, you know them better than I ever will, I pray that whatever their needs are that they would be met according to your will.” And I learned that even though I was rushed from house to house, just my presence and smile and willingness to be there to pray for them was enough for them.
So in the midst of my physical, emotional, and spiritual discomfort, I was able to be Jesus’ hands and feet and shine His light in these tiny little villages in India.
After we prayed for all the families in the village we would meet back at the church and have a service. There we would preach and share testimonies and
I am learning that all the little things in life aren’t as important as we make them.
I never could have imagined myself on such a crazy life changing experience. Everyday I’m blown away with how God is working in my life, my teams life and in those around me. But I’m also learning that when we go to all these villages everyday, I want to fix all their problems and give them all that I have. But I can’t, I’m learning that thats not why I’m here. And that’s not what our purpose is in life. Sure I can give them all these material things, but in the end, that’s not what really matters. What really matters is the smile I shared with them. Or the prayer I prayed over them or the hug I gave them. Yes I don’t know their struggles or their story but God does and he has me here not to fix their problems but to be a beacon of hope for them. At the end of the day what really matters is that they have Jesus or have seen Him through me. I’m here to show them that what I have is pretty freakin great and that they can have what I have:)
At the beginning of this month we were all struggling with going to all these villages and being rushed from house to house to pray faster so we can cover the whole village. It was hard because the last three months in Africa were different and all about building relationships and spending time getting to know the people we pray with, but that’s not how they do it here. And it was hard to adjust but we are learning that yes relationship is important but God can work in so many different ways it’s crazy. We need to stop trying to put God in a box. And even though we only have a few moments with these people in the village, they are so honoured to have us pray over them and be in our presence for a little period of time. That’s when God is there with us, shining through us. So although it’s different and hard, God is still working and although we can’t see the seed that we plant grow, We are planting them all over and it’s so awesome:)
Sorry that’s a lot. But that’s what’s in my heart right now. It’s not about the material things and trying to solve all their problems, it’s about being Jesus’ hands and feet and beaming his love everywhere we go. If we’re willing, He will use us. Sometimes Jesus didn’t even have to use words. He was just there and people followed him. That’s what I’m striving for.
Someone once told me “preach the gospel everywhere you go and if you have to, use words.”
A new season is coming up and although I’m scared, there’s no reason for me to be because God wants the best for me and loves me so very much.
Prayer Requests:
Team changes are happening and it’s scary. Yes the Lord will put the perfect people in my life but support through prayer would be much appreciated.
Also my squad as a whole are experiencing a lot of different emotions and struggles as we move into this next season, so prayer for vulnerability and intimacy with the Lord would be good too.
Thanks for following me!! I love you all!!
Until next time!
