My journal entry for April 23rd was, “I can’t get over the amount of blankets on the beds!” Sometimes there are up to six thick blankets and they have that many because you really need them here in southern Chile. A couple mornings ago, I woke up under these cozy piles of blankets, the sun (finally) shining through the window beside me and the sound of dishes being shuffled around in the kitchen of the farmhouse that I was staying at drifting through the door. I just laid there with Jesus, taking in the blessing and beauty of it all and started thinking about the phrase “real life”. These thoughts continued to tumble around in my head until I put them to paper on our nine hour bus ride from Puerto Mont to Chillan, Chile.
The world race is real life, full of colorful people and places that fill up my journal with pink ink, black pen sketches and bold marker lettering. I didn’t leave reality behind when I boarded the plane to head to Costa Rica, I simply stepped into the next chapter. Real life is full of meeting new people, pushing past fear of awkwardness and rejection or even something as simple as a language barrier. Real life is figuring out the exchange rate, the next problem for your chemistry homework, or how to ask where you bus is going in Spanish. It is taking the road less traveled when the opportunity presents itself or keeping a steady course on a road that you feel you have been walking on forever. Real life is taking five minutes longer in the bathroom when the road less traveled is overwhelming you and you need to cry, give yourself a pep talk in the mirror or punch the air. It is realizing that you are seriously flawed and then taking the next step to realizing that you are seriously loved. Real life is chopping carrots, peeling potatoes and boiling chicken, music and voices making a beautiful symphony in the kitchen. It is going to make dinner for your tired team or family, even when you are practically dead on your feet. Real life is a rainy day without even a dandelion to cheer it up. It is the morning sun, glorious through the blue sky and yellow leaves of fall.
Real life is saying hello and it is saying goodbye.
For the past four months, I have genuinely loved living life with four women who have hugged me, held me accountable and helped me become a better woman. There were times of intense joy as we prayed together and felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. There were silly times of piggy back rides, wearing fancy dresses laying in our hosts home while we washed the clothes that we had been wearing for the past few days, and doing our absolute best to get a good mom eye roll out of our team leader Aubrey with various other shenanigans. There were difficult times, filled with tough love critiques, personality clashes and all the other healthy conflict that refined us. It was breathtaking and messy. Looking back, I see the provision of God in how He brought us together to bring to pass some powerful purposes.
Today, we had team changes and while I said goodbye to these women as my teammates, they are an eternal part of the fabric of my life. When I look someone in the eye and share the truth, they will be the cloud of witnesses in my mind, cheering me on. When I am called to extend patience and grace in difficult situations, Aubrey’s face will come to mind. As the Lord calls me to persevere, I will think of Ashley as she said yes again and again to the course that the Lord has called her to stay on. When I am asked to be vulnerable and to step up to intensely challenging situations, I will remember my bus ride conversation with Lindsey. When I am tempted to find my identity in people, I will remember how Brittany’s identity is deeply rooted in the Lord.
These next couple weeks will be both tear filled and exciting, but I have seen the faithfulness of the Lord over these past four months and trust the Holy Spirit completely with how He has put together my new team.
Life Updates:
I got really excited when… I ordered my coffee, cake and made small talk in Spanish just now!
I cried when…team changes actually happened. I thought I was a pre-griever…apparently not anymore.
I have really enjoyed…the street art and vibrant colors of Valparaiso
I am believing…that God has spoken Isaiah 54 over my new team and I. This was a promise that the Lord gave me at the beginning of the race and today He showed me that this is the team where it is going to come to fruition. Please join me in praying this chapter over my team and myself!
