One blog won’t be enough to justify the beauty of our Father in my life over this past month. However, I’ll do my best.
As many of you may know, in Costa Rica, my camera bag was stolen. My camera bag had many things in it: my camera, a few lenses, my laptop, my wallet, and many other pieces of photography equipment. I’d estimate it all costing $10,000 – or more.
After it was stolen I was peaceful and untroubled – it was effortless peace. I wasn’t even trying to remain calm, it was happening supernaturally. I can’t even begin to explain the peace and joy that was overflowing from within me. His will is the safest place to be. Therefore, if it was His will that that should happen, I was at peace with it.
Why?
Because when I read, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
I embrace & believe it.
It was genuinely weird to everyone on my squad to see me reacting the way that I was. People kept saying: “How are you not shutting down and pissed off?”, “Why are you so happy that this happened?”, “Do you think you’ll get it back? Is that why you’re handling this so well?”, and “I would be reacting a whole lot differently if I were you.”
In Philippians, Paul describes exactly what I was experiencing.
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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I was not anxious. I was not troubled. I was not angry. I was not remorseful.
I was experiencing the peace of God which transcends all understanding. It was guarding my heart and my mind.
It was uncomfortable for me to hear people lifting me up saying, “Kole, your attitude about this is amazing!” It was uncomfortable because I wasn’t even the one that was making my attitude the way that it was. My flesh was doing nothing. It was absolutely – 100% – the Holy Spirit from within me.
Matthew 26:41
The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Ten days after my things were stolen, I posted about it on FaceBook to let people know why I wouldn’t be posting any more photos. A few days later, I had two people – one of which I have never spoken to or met in my entire life – separately message me saying that they had heard what happened & that they wanted to help replace all of my equipment.
Both were pro photographers.
One gave me an ENTIRE kit of pro camera equipment. One camera. Five lenses. Extra batteries. Extra SD cards.
The other not only helped replace many things but spent weeks spreading word of what happened in attempt to replace my laptop, flashes, and other equipment.
On top of ALL of that, one of my squad members gave me her laptop to use for the rest of the race/until I get another one. What the HECK God – you’re awesome.
Long story short: Not once did I ask for my equipment to be replaced in prayer nor did I ask publicly. I simply left it in His hands. I felt secure and safe in His will. And in less than a month, I had ALL of my equipment replaced.
God is inexplicably incredible in His provision.
And I haven’t even gotten to my favorite part yet…
About two weeks ago, my dad and I were on the phone discussing everything that I’ve learned and gone through recently. The topic of my things being stolen came up. He suggested that I contact the photography company that I’m sponsored by and ask them if they’d be willing to replace the things that they gave me for the Race to advertise the versatilely of their equipment. I didn’t want to bother with it because it was my fault that the things got stolen (and I’m lazy). My dad said that if I gave him my contact with the photography company, that he would call & ask on my behalf. My dad has fantastic people skills so I had no problem with it.
We hung up and he called me back an hour later… freaking out.
He said, “Kole, you’re not going to believe this. When she picked up and I explained who I was and why I was calling she replied and said, “It’s so weird that you’re calling me right now because I literally just got out of a meeting and we were talking about Kole. We were talking about how he is on par, if not better, than the top National Geographic photographers of this age. So with that said, we would love for him put together a wish-list of photography equipment and we will do our best to fulfill his requests.”
After that call, I was able to go on amazon and put together a list of some of my dream equipment. It felt unreal. I had no words. I did not know how to respond. I’m so undeserving of everything that Jesus gives me, yet He never stops pouring out His love. Following Him is worth everything.
Ephesians 3:20 – Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think – according to the power that works in you – to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Part II
The day after my things were stolen was my first in Nicaragua. It was my team and one other – His Hands & Wildflowers. My team was an all guys team & the other team was an all girls team. It was such a great match of teams.
Our home was called, “Casa de Gozo” which means “House of Joy.” Our ministry for the month was children ministry. Everyday, around 2 P.M., the kids (20 kids on average) would start coming. We would typically play sports with them – living, loving, and laughing with them. Saturdays were our big day. On Saturdays ministry would start at 10 A.M. We would put on skits, sing, dance, play games, put together soccer tournaments, and talk about the words of Jesus.
His Hands and Wildflowers made so many beautiful, fun memories together. It was an amazing month.
God taught me invaluable things over this past month with Him.
Here is what I’ve learned:
– I’ve learned that unity within the body of Christ will only come when all are actively pursuing holiness. Additionally, the body will be encouraged to pursue holiness when they see other people pursuing it & bearing fruit.
– I’ve learned that true fruit producing intimacy with Jesus is the product of spending much time alone in prayer & alone in His word.
– I’ve learned that the Holy Spirit adores dwelling in the places that there is the most joy and the most obedience.
– I’ve learned that the Holy Spirit will become exponentially more prominent in your life when you ask Him to be. And when you ask Him to be, He will start asking you to do and say things that aren’t very easy. He loves testing your faith and love for Him.
– I’ve learned that I truly am not attached to my camera equipment and that photography does not by any means define me. This whole process has shown me that I am actually on this trip for the building of the Kingdom & nothing else. My whole identity is Jesus & I adore it.
– I’ve learned that He is growing the gift of teaching and shepherding in me. He is giving me a supernatural hunger for His word and His will. I know that this trip is preparing me for something very, very big for the Kingdom. I’m quite excited to see His perfect will unfold.
– I’ve learned that this life is not about me. It’s not about having my best life now. It’s about pursuing Him and glorifying Him in absolutely every single thing that I do, say, and think. He is creator, I am creation. I am made by Him and for Him -ONLY. If I have an opportunity to bring glory to His name I will do it with pleasure, even if it causes me awful suffering. My citizenship is not of this Earth but of Heaven. Therefore, I will store up treasures in Heaven and not here. I will live with the mindset of eternity. I will suffer for the sake of Him because it’s all about Him.
It is God’s will that we share in the monetary suffering of Christ, for a little while longer.
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed”
(1 Peter 4:12-13)
I am now in Rwanda with a new team – Team Chosen.
We’re going to do big things for Him. I can’t wait to share everything that He does in and through us.
To all of my prayer & financial supporters:
I love you. A lot. I need you. A lot. You guys are playing such an enormous role in furthering the Kingdom of God. I’m so joyful that I get to share in this with you all.
Last note: I still need $600 to be fully funded for this trip. My deadline is in a month. If the Lord moves your heart to donate – be obedient, He loves it.
