As of two weeks ago, I am a graduate of Duke University (wow that still feels weird to say!)
The last several weeks of my senior spring semester were a flurry of completing final assignments, enjoying precious last moments with friends on our beautiful campus, attending senior banquets, trying to raise funds for the World Race, packing up the room, selling my stuff and getting ready for my family to arrive for graduation. Phew, that was a mouthful.
Amidst the chaos, I was discouraged because I couldn’t dedicate as much time to fundraising as I would have liked and my progress slowed to a trickle. I was overwhelmed with so many emotions from saying goodbye to the place that had been my home for the past four years. All the while, doing my best to host my family well during graduation weekend and enjoy our time all together.
Now, hear me when I say that I hadn’t seen a rainbow in at least two years. Most people who know me, know that I love rainbows so when I saw three rainbows within my last couple of weeks at Duke I was so excited! The most incredible one wished me farewell from the plane as I left Durham after graduation. For me rainbows are so much more than a beautiful and magical colour display in the sky, they represent much more – God’s promise.
After the flood during the time of Noah, the LORD said, “I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth” (Genesis 9:13). In all the craziness, each rainbow reassured me of God’s promise of what He was doing in my life and what He was preparing me for during the Race. I am so deeply thankful for how close His presence is.
I often have moments like these when I am just totally in awe of our Creator. The same God who paints stunning sunsets and knows each star in the night sky by name, is the same God who tenderly creates a baby’s fingers and toes and is the same God who is rich in love and mercy and grace towards me.
Since arriving back home in Swaziland, I’ve been enjoying time at home with my family and much much needed sleep after four years! But – I’ve also been struck with the realization that I’m a currently unemployed college graduate and the uncertainty of when I’ll next see some of my closest friends. More than that, I made the exciting but sobering calculation that I have just about three months left until I leave for the Race which means I still have to raise at least 12,000 more dollars to reach my financial goal of leaving fully funded in September.
Yes, that’s a little (okay a lot!) overwhelming.
But I shall not soon forget my Abba Father’s power and promises in all His rainbows. The promise to go on the World Race to make a global and eternal impact in reaching the nations. The promise that He is “able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20). The promise that He is a loving Father who is for me and not against me (Romans 8:31).
Thank you to all my incredible current partners who continue to make this possible and to any new partners, would you consider joining in on the promise?
