I would like to apologize for the lack of blog posts of late. Hopefully you were too busy with Christmas and New Years to notice my absence. It isn't that God hasn't been doing cool and amazing things in our time here in Rwanda. I have pictures and blogs running in my head I need to get posted in the next few days.
I was even able to play in a basketball game this past Friday night for a team from Rwanda against a team from Congo. It was a bit surreal to be honest.
But, much of what has been weighing on my heart of late is the fact that 9 people lef the race last week (including 2 from my team) and 14 people have left The World Race since mid-way through Nepal. Our group of 44 hit 30 this week and honestly it has been challenging.
These are people I would call friends and respect. Five of those people were either on my first team or my last team. The reality is that team changes are likely over the weekend and the unknown of what that will look like is hard.
Change is a constant on The World Race. Every month we move to a different country. If team changes happen, this will be my 6th different team combination in 6 months on the race. Several of those team combinations have only been for a few weeks, but it is challenging to seem to live in a state of constant change. I wil be honest, I really don't like change.
Add to that a continual pull of my heart back to the United States. Don't get me wrong, I love my life at times on The World Race. But, I am honest enough to admit that my last hot shower was 4 months ago and I really, really would love a hot shower. Being away from home for Thanksgiving and Christmas again did not mean it is something I have grown used to.
I continue to miss being in the classroom or coaching basketball with a team of my own. But, it is funny as each time I have wrestled with the desire to head back to the United States or wondering whether it is really worth it to be on The World Race, God has shown up to give me a glimpse as to why I am here. I remember clearly chatting with Cody as we were doing evangelism in Kenya and then stumbling upon Eunice and her school. We both laughed at God's timing and how he put Eunice in our path that day just for me.
This month, God has reopened the door for basketball. As I have been able to coach and then play on Friday, God has reminded me of the doors he is opening for me and the reasons I am here.
It doesn't make me miss home any less. It is just a reminder that God's purposes and vision are so much bigger than what I can see or feel many days.
For now, I wrestle forward. I am excited to finish my time here in Rwanda and then transition to Uganda where I have a Compassion child I prayerfully will be able to meet in about a month. I'm excited for what God will continue to teach me and ways he will use me. My heart lay be heavy and I may complain to God about how He is working and how I'd prefer it to be different. But, at 6 months on this journey today, I am thankful for the ways God has used me and how He will continue to use me in the months ahead.
