It Was Love

One thing about the Race that you may not know, is God brings up a lot of possibilities. Things to pray about and learn and see where you might be able to grow when this Race comes to an end.

Last month, while traveling the country of Honduras, I asked God to continue to teach me love. One way was through meeting a potential contact (See my previous blog: Rockin Robin.) and another was having my face in a toilet for three hours.

At the end of Honduras, we were having debrief in the city called Valley of the Angels. The second day there I got what started as a little stomach bug which entailed a belly ache, some lovely diarrhea, and a weak body. As the day progressed, my symptoms got worse and I ended the day with my head in a toilet vomiting for three hours. As I sat in the bathroom of my hotel room, another squad mate come in to check on me and stayed with me just about the whole time. Praying over me, rubbing my back, and helping lift my water bottle to my face. Others came in and prayed over me and helped me too. Even a sympathetic vomitter came in to be with me and helped me into bed afterwards. My team came in after the evening session to check on me and pray over me.
It was love like I have never experienced except when I get really sick back home.

Here my family was truly there for me. Rubbing my back, helping me drink water, and praying for me as everything came up from my system. It was love.

After a day in bed, sleeping with some very strange dreams which included cinnabon, pterodactyl, slothing, and watercolors; I returned to the land of the living.

Having everyone ask how I was, showed me how much people cared about my well being.

The day I began to feel better was also the day of new teams. Every few months, we get placed with a new team to continue our growing and not stay stagnant. My new team, United Difference or Undis for short, is an all girls team.

Honestly, I would have been apprehensive being on an all girls team at the beginning of the Race, but as month four continued on, I was praying for my future team to just love them automatically. And I did.

The moment I saw them I knew I loved them, I knew I was excited to live life with them.

As this month has started, we are currently in the beautiful country of Guatemala serving in a town called San Raymundo at a school.

The love we receive from the children here is infinite. Some hold my hand all throughout the bus ride to and from school. Others bombard me with hugs on the playground. Some pull me out of my seat and proceed to tackle me to the ground so I can sit with them during class. The pure love that they have in their eyes and hugs makes my heart swell.

The least I can do is hug back as tight as I can for as long as I can, hold my arm as far as it can go to reach their hand as they are getting off the bus, and give them my hands to trace my painted nails, count my many bracelets and play with my rings.

It's love when I look at these kids and its love that gets me through each day.