Living in constant Christian community has some valleys, but the peaks drastically outweigh those valleys. Tonight, I had the privilege of having a member of another team, team Galilee, wash my feet, pray, and speak truth and encouragement over me. She also told me she had been praying for me, by name, this entire past week. She shared with me what God revealed to her about myself. Her words were just what I needed to hear, and spoke to a place in me that is broken, but is in the process of being healed. What an honor it was to have a squad mate humble herself, and wash my (very dirty and I’m sure, smelly) feet.
As my time in Romania comes to an end, I reflect back on a month that, much like community living, had many peaks and valleys. The experiences I had this month, were vastly different than my time in Serbia. I was stretched outside of my comfort zone on a daily basis, I was challenged by my leadership (in a great way), I grew spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. As the shiny newness of the World Race fades away entering into month 3, I can now accept that the Race is going to, and is currently, changing me, but for the better. I now know that I will not return to the United States in 9 months, the same girl-which is simultaneously both terrifying and exhilarating.
I can feel inside myself, a heart change-which I know can seem like a bold statement to make. But, through my teammates, my leadership, and the experiences and people I am meeting through my Race, I am beginning to walk in freedom in who I am, because I am confident in who God says I am.
He says I am:
Beloved
Forgiven
Worthy
Set Apart
Whole
Made in his Image
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.
The process of beginning to walk in freedom in who I am in Christ is transforming every aspect of me. I am learning my voice and am speaking more boldly and confidently. I am learning my worth-my worth on my team, to myself, in the kingdom, and most importantly my worth to God. I am gaining confidence in the young woman I am, and I am so excited to become the woman God is molding me into through this experience.
I am so confident and thankful for the freedom that God is providing me that I have made an important decision to be baptized, by my friend and teammate, Savannah. Although I was baptized as a baby and confirmed in the Methodist church, I have yet to make the choice in my adult life to live a life with God guiding my steps. So look forward to a blog next month about my baptism and me aligning outwardly what I feel inwardly.
“It is for freedom in Christ, that Christ has set us free, stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery”-Galations 5
xoxo Elizabeth
