I'm sorry, I haven't posted a blog this month. I have been trying to recover from Typhoid fever, the flu, and self diagnosed upper respiratory infection. Writing blogs has fallen far down the todo list. I spent much of the month curled up on the couch watching National Geographic Wild! Yes, that's right! Our ministry site had cable television! Praise Jesus!
The following blog was written by best friend, Dusty Dills, who was part of the leadership team of the Parent Vision trip earlier this month. My grandmother was able to join me on the race and experience a small part of what it is all about.
I have every intention of writing my own blog but for now … read Dusty's account of week.
(Looking outside the mission base window)
If you haven't heard about PVT's on the World Race, you should check it out as well! God is moving in mighty ways, and I count it a blessing to have had the opportunity to help lead M-Squads PVT earlier this month!
God did incredible things!
Basically what a PVT consist of is, for one week, you have the opportunity as a World Racer, to invite one or both of your parents out onto the field to join you! We've seen so many great things come from these trips, and getting to experience it firsthand was amazing!
The trip started with our team arriving in Nairobi, Kenya, and soon we were followed by the World Racers, and last but not least, their families!
(The Nairobi airport is a little crazy since burning down a few months back)
It was an incredible moment watching the racers surprise their families at the airport! Many tears were shed and hugs and kisses exchanged.
Once we met up with the parents (or for this occasion, we also had one Grandparent join us on the field), we returned to Maai Mahui, where we'd be doing ministry for the week.
Over the next several days, the 8 racers, and 12 parents, would be split up into 3 teams.
There were three different ministry opportunities on this trip, so over the next three days, the teams would rotate, so they could each experience the different types of ministry that one might partake in on the World Race.
The first ministry site was an Adventures In Missions base that is run by Matt Patch, a former racer.
(Team 1 doing some manual labor at the base)
(More labor)
Matt and his ministry partner, Kelly, were just blessed with a new ministry base. So for one day, the teams would help do manual labor to help prepare the site for teams in the future, and also for Matt and his team to move into.
(Sarah with her Mother and Father doing ministry at the second site)
The second site was located in Kijabe, at a hospital, which is actually the largest missions base in the world! There, participants worked with a lady named, Mercy, who is basically a modern-day Mother Teresa! She is an incredible women, with a powerful testimony, and she LOVES Jesus!
(Me and Ms. Mercy! She's amazing!)
The third ministry opportunity was at an "IDP Camp" (Internally Displaced Persons), a few miles from where we stayed. Here, Kelly and Matt are running a ministry outreach called, "61 Project", which works with the young folks in the camp. Teams had a great time visiting with the residence, doing prayer walks, and playing sports.
(Playing volleyball with some of the youth)
(Grandmother Mackie playing the "Tire" game)
(Leaving the IDP Camp)
(My buddy, Sam and I)
On the forth day of ministry, teams had the opportunity to "Ask The Lord (ATL)" about where to serve that day. This day was CRAZY GOOD! I'll give you my side of the story in my next blog…
On the final day, participants got to spend some free time with their loved ones on safari! It was a great way to finish off the week, and everyone really enjoyed it!
(Me and zebras… Very close!)
(Dave and I also VERY close to the giraffe)
(I imagine touching this wouldn't turn out well…)
So that's a rundown of ministry, but for the PVT, more important than anything that was done during those times was the "Parent Racer Times" of ministry, where racers where encouraged to have hard conversations with their parents, and allow God to do some healing and restoration if need-be.
Wow, talk about seeing God move! He did incredible things and there were so many great conversations had. I believe not only did racers find freedom and healing, but I also watched the parents go through it as well.
It was beautiful! Some of the parents had never even been on an airplane, and now they found themselves in the middle of Africa, getting a taste of the World Race, and seeing Jesus in a different light.
The finish to the week was one of the best moments of the whole trip. Parents had the opportunity to pray over their racers and re-release them onto the field, and then the racers did the same for their families. God moved and did a huge work during all of this, in all of their lives… Mine included.
(Final time of prayer over racers and parents before leaving)
