Here we are, me and P squad have reached the end of our race in Sri Lanka. Ten months ago we started this journey in Honduras and it’s led us eventually to Matara and Galle on the south coast in Sri Lanka. At least that has been our journey by location. Personally, I have been in many different areas and on both sides of extremes spiritually and emotionally. It is hard to find the correct place to be while being here. I know that this can’t go on forever and if it weren’t for resources I could continue for another year doing this. With the joy of the Lord that is always possible. However, knowing that there is no other country to fly to on the race and that we will be stateside again in a few days has made me desire a few things that I will be ready to do again when I return. I know I will be visiting a Cracker Barrel, Bojangles, Krispy Kreme and having actual real coffee again. Though, I may not have the appetite for rice for a while after this. Those are the small things I’m ready to have again.
It has been hard to balance community and ministry during this time. Do we continue to look for ministry opportunities but don’t take the time to prepare for life after this while in a community that has very limited time? Or should we just focus everything into every opportunity to share Christ and make disciples and forget about the people around you? I know that I have a tendency in my life to separate the two and they cannot be divided. In my mind the mission was always more important than the people around me and I will often neglect the community side. Sometimes my excuse is I can’t focus on both there is no time and mission is more important in eternity. I’m finding out that it’s just another way of saying I’m lazy and I’m making it look like I’ve done something when I have not. There is also plenty of ministry to be done within a body of believers which are your community. Also, community is what you should invest in because it enables the mission to take place and gives it strength.
In the weeks leading up to now I have thought about coming back to the US and I have no real picture about what life should look like and nothing about that seems to excite me other than the initial week of it. Now, I do have some ideas that God has given me about what I could be doing when I return. I’m now a little more confident after seeing all the areas I have worked on in my life while out here. The discipleship process of being on the race has produced its intended effect.
See you all stateside.
