Well, it’s month 11. And honestly, my thoughts are all over the place on what to write about. There’s so many things I’ve learned that could be shared, but then I think, those are things that you would absolutely have to be there to experience the full effect (I will try to share them to the best of my ability though). I could write books on all the people we’ve met and that have impacted us. I could write about struggles, adventures, or even the anxiousness I feel about getting home.
First off, to all my supporters and blog followers, from the bottom of my heart I want to say thank you. This journey has changed my life forever. We have been able to reach people from the unreached Chipang people in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains to 80 year old angels in nursing homes in Guatemala. We’ve gotten to encourage full time missionaries in every country we’ve been to. My personal favorite, got to play and show love to so many different children in every nation. We got to pour into one another and bring each other freedom that most of us, including me, has never felt before. We learned how to LIVE in community, as hard as it can be sometimes. And we also got to do things that some of us thought we would never do, such as: ride and swim with elephants, surf, go to one of the seven wonders of the world, get a $4 massage, cast out demons, name Indian babies, and soooo much more.
I would like to reiterate the fact that my thoughts are all over the place haha. Anyway, supporters, you have sent me on a journey that have let me realize how I want to serve God for the rest of my life and you will forever be a part in that realization. I encourage any of those who read this to not be afraid of what God is telling you and, as Nike says, JUST DO IT!!!
(Proceed down rabbit trail)
This month, we are with three awesome, well, surfers/brothers in Christ doing manual labor. They are awesome hosts and truly treat us like family and are possibly the best cooks ever. Anyway, we are right near a beach. Yesterday we went body surfing, and as I watched the waves crash and ride them towards the shore, I was struck with an analogy. Standing in the seemingly endless ocean and watching a giant wave build up is like Christ prompting you to make a choice. It’s beautiful and powerful, like we know He truly is, but because it’s in our human nature, it also looks intimidating and scary. The wave builds, our window of opportunity to ride the wave (choose God’s will or or not) is closing. At this point, we have two choices. Dive under the wave and remain standing in the same spot, OR, ride that wave!!! When we choose to ride it we sometimes get whipped and flipped around, but He’s still sending us towards safety; the shore. Then we get to swim back out and do it all over again!! If we choose to dive under the wave, even though we are still in the same spot, take heart, because God has a constant flow of waves/opportunities for you to experience the wild ride that is utter faith in Him. However, by choosing to constantly dive under is also like letting Christ remain in the box that SO many of us have him in. We still stand out in the endless ocean (God’s power), but we never get to fully experience Him.The Holy Spirit that Christ gave to his disciples in the Bible is the same one you have. I’ve seen it in action on this trip alone. The World Race has taught me to choose the wave and not be afraid, and for me, I’ll be riding that wave back to Guatemala in September. Please do the same, please choose the wild ride that is God’s plan for you, you won’t regret it, I promise.
That is also my call to all my fellow racers. As we approach the very end of this journey a wave approaches us. We could dive under it and have this trip be the end of our growing, or we could start swimming to catch the wave and go for a wild ride. It’s your choice!!! The wave is building…..
