About three months back, in Africa, my friend Ethan asked me a question, an extremely good question. “If you could describe the Race in three words what would they be?” That’s what this blog is about. I’ve tweeked the question a bit but it’s been so good to sit and really think about the short story of this all. How do I tell people how this year went without about 30min minimum to explain? Well here it is, I’ve got some sort of answer to: “How was your trip?” “How did your year go?” “What did you learn on the Race?”
So here goes nothin’
The four words that describe this year/ my Race:
Intimacy:
Who knew I could be so close to a God I can’t even see?! I’ve really learned what it means to call the Lord “Papa;” to me it’s a more intimate title, like when Jesus cried out to ABBA.
“And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.””
Mark 14:36
Papa always has the best in mind for me, he loves to put a show on for me every day, to take me on dates, just Him and I. It’s beautiful to feel so connected to the one who made you. To know that each person I meet, beautiful sunset seen, blade of grass touched, pool to swim in, is a gift from Him. There is a gift from Papa everyday; sometimes we have to go on a scavenger hunt to find it and sometimes it’s right in front of our faces, we just have to want it as much as he wants to give it to us.
Assurance:
This word came about in Nepal. If you’ve read my blog,”Something Just isn’t right,” then you know a bit about the physical pains that have come up on the Race. Cambodia was just before Nepal in this sequence and it was the most physically painful month, possibly of my life thus far. So we were told our ministry for the next month in Nepal and our team was stoked, we were basically in Mt. Everest’s back yard trekking to people groups who live in the mountains. I was nervous when I first heard that because in my mind and physical state I just thought about how much pain there could possibly be. Long story short our team switched ministries because it was better for me physically; that hurt. God had a different plan though. Nepal ended up being one of my top favorite months, I could probably say that for my entire team. Our ministry was hard labor but we made it so fun, our contact Rueben is one of the most awesome man of God I’ve ever met, and I felt like Pocahontas trekking through the foothills of the Himalayas.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
Assurance. Even if your plans or expectations change dramatically in one moment the Lord will put you where he always planned you to be, always. I walk forward from that knowing no matter where I am or who I’m with the Lord planned it before hand and there is something there to learn or grow from.
The Church:
One thing I never expected to grow in this year is what a healthy community looks like. It seems obvious now but before I left I thought this year would be more about mission work and ministries; nope it’s about 30% ministry and 70% community. We are with at least one other person 24/7; sometimes it’s one person, sometimes 6, 14, or 50. I really can’t do justice with words to describe what the Church can look like with that many loving and broken people working together. We have brought healing, love, and growth to each other and a ton of people around us. It’s messy, let me repeat, it’s messy but oh so beautiful. The brokenness we all bring in is tough to work through but wow, it’s beautiful to see us lift each other up after a good cry. That’s what Jesus asked of the disciples; to live and love through the brokenness, it’s the Church.
Confidence:
We have joined and served with 10 different ministries this year. All of them had their own routines we followed and beliefs on how to share the love of Christ. I’ve been asked to cover up my ankles, use a 5-point Gospel sharing technique, cover my head during church, hand out Bibles that were in another language to strangers, sit on the women’s side of church, and other things like that, all to be respectful and share the Gospel the most effectively in that culture. Other than take me completely out of my comfort zone and surprise me this has taught me about my confidence in the Holy Spirit. Knowing how the Spirit directs me. Breaking cultural and language barriers to share the love of Christ. Knowing that when the Spirit moves I need to act. Also having confidence in that moment the Spirit does move, using scripture, using random words, a hug, a smile, anything that sounds ridiculous at the time is usually the right thing to do. I was created to love God and show that love He gave me to others, not to deny anyone of that love.
“If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.”
2 Corinthians 5:13-14
This is such a short version of lessons I’ve learned over 11 months. I’m so thankful for them, I’ve refined who I am so much through them. Not changed though. A lot of times I’ve heard how changed people are when they go home from this Race thing. No, I’m still Holly, the same me God created 23 years ago, but I’m definitely refining who I am through these lessons.
I’m no less broken than when I first started his whole thing, I still have some of the same struggles, but I am seeing a whole new light to the God I follow. I’m seeing how good he is to me and truly believing I am a daughter that deserves the best life given to me.
“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:6
