Ministry, location, and holiday have been more than perfect here in South Africa. I have loved sleeping in my tent. I have basked in the sun almost everyday. I have spent countless hours in my hammock beneath the trees talking to Daddy. I have not watched one complete movie, but have spent all my time outdoors. I have listened to the hearts of others, as story time is our only entertainment.
I haven’t written many blogs this month, because there hasn’t been anything huge that has happened… Until about five days ago. I hate it when I don’t expect God to show up, when I just assume that my month will be one way simply because of circumstances.
My team is joined with 2 other teams this month. It is a really great time, but it also keeps us from having the alone time we would like. Because I knew that we would not have as much time to ourselves, I guess I subconsciously assumed that there wouldn’t be much growth in our personal lives this month. Boy was I wrong. Every single one of my teammates, and myself, have either walked in a bit more freedom, or have been given things that God has previously promised. His faithfulness has been evident in our lives.
I won’t go into detail because these aren’t my stories to share, but here is the run down:
Ashley Huber stepped into some freedom two days ago as the Lord told her to share something huge with our team, something that she had never told anyone. She boldly listened to the voice of the Lord and is on the road to freedom from the things of her past that trapped her there. This saturday we are plunging her into the ocean and when she comes up out of that water, she will be new and always remember the moment when the past became the past, never to be remembered again.
Amanda Dorough realized an insecurity that has held her captive for as many years as she can remember. We called her up, prayed, and prophesied over her that Satan no longer has a hold in her life in that area any longer. She is free from that cage.
Alysa Halteman had a crossroads moment. She was asked to choose between Satan and God one day in the woods. Satan tempted her much like Satan tempted Jesus in the desert. The victory was won! She left the woods declaring that God was the only one she would serve. She left victorious, crushing Satan with her heel. (That night, I got so fired up that I started stomping on Satan. I may have scared my team… Nothing new really 🙂
Lauren Erb realized that she had an unhealthy relationship with someone. She was constantly comparing her relationship with that person to the relationship that person has with others. Once God showed her the root of the problem, she began walking in freedom… And she hasn’t stopped.
Lauren Ricks had a hard time on New Years Eve and was dealing with a lot of emotional pain. She retreated to her tent for the night. However the next morning, she was out and about and worshiping the Lord. Her joy was restored so quickly (something she has been praying for) and I’ve seen so much victory in her life in these past days.
Annee Ballard has seen God’s love and faithfulness. She received a lot of healing back in Albania from junk in her past and thought that God wouldn’t give her the things she desired because what she had “done”. However, God totally broke that lie down and has really blessed her this month with something she thought she didn’t deserve.
As for me…. I have been given a lot of wisdom. I have been asking for boldness, strength, and the ability to go with my gut even when others aren’t with me. To go places that are hard, because I know that good will come of it. Also, Daddy has just shown me that He keeps His promises. He has opened my eyes to many things about who I am, my future, and and the plans He has in store for me.
HUGE things are happening for my team; Break throughs right and left. I guess I thought that the World Race was going to be all about changing the lives of others: The poor, the lost, the broken. And so much of it is… But it is also so much more than that. I have been forever changed, and been a part of the change in my team as well.
I am half way through… I’m going to expect more healing, more change, and more life, because there’s still 5 more months to go! Change here we come!
