Our first debrief in El Salvador I was sick most of the week and super home sick. I thought it was good, until I got to experience debrief here in Malawi at the beautiful Lake Malawi. God really showed up. Coming on the race I always heard about my true identity in Christ. I don’t think I ever fully understood what that meant until now. Since the beginning I knew a habit I wanted to change is being easily angered and defensive. No one likes being angry and I definitely don’t either. My team mates have called me higher the whole race. I got to the point where I realized I was defensive right after it happens. It hurt me every time I hurt one of my team mates. I have been told being defensive is not my true identity, that is not how Christ sees me. I believe this now. He sees me as His bride clothed in His righteousness and in white. Cleansed by His blood. I went to debrief and felt like the real Hails. I wasn’t defensive and I just had fun. I am starting to see the real Hailey in this last month in Africa too. I roomed with my close friend Taylor and we got to spend quality time together. I also got to spend a lot of alone time, which was so needed. I didn’t think it was needed because I have always been an extrovert. Jesus taught me that I need to prioritize my time spent with Him every day and time for myself. It’s really hard to get alone time living with 11 girls, but he is teaching me how to rest in Him. Jesus has helped me cast out lies stuck in my head.
We had a talent show at debrief and it was so funny. My squad leader Katie and I reenacted the speech scene from Bridesmaids. Then I embraced my inner Pheobe Buffet and sang some of her songs. Shoutout to my fam for the countless years of watching friends together. The coolest part of the talent show was that I was completely comfortable making a fool out of myself in front of 40 people. God has given me confidence to be exactly who I was made to be and that gives me so much joy.
