This summer has flown by and now that training camp has come and gone, the World Race is now a little bit more of a reality. Training camp, if I can even put in words was intensely incredible. I met my entire squad of 40 people and we also were put into our teams of 6 or 7 that I will be living and serving alongside with for the Race.
My squad for the next 11 months!
My teammates : Team Conquerors!
That week of training wasn’t learning how to be a great missionary in all 11 countries… It was about Jesus. Everything. It was about our personal relationship with Jesus. It was also about Jesus within our teams. Then with a healthy soul and a united team…all from Jesus, therefore we could talk about how His glory is going to shine through us in the countries we are going to.
I have close to one month to launch. God-willing, in one month I will be in Cambodia beginning this year long journey. SO INSANE.
So yes, this summer has flown by as all summers do, but the Lord’s timing has been perfect as it always is. If someone asked me what is one thing I’ve learned this summer, it is that God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.
In 1 Peter 4, it says “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
With my new job, leaving college, support raising, and preparing to leave, I’ve had to do a lot of trusting. My first response to God is that “Hold on, God, I got it all handled.” I usually shove a hand in His face and tell Him to let me try it all on my own. And He usually lets go… to let me try out my new bike without His help as any Dad would. But when I find myself crashed and scraped on the sidewalk, He is always still there to pick me back up.
I know this is a silly metaphor about a kid learning to ride a bike. But life really is this way. God gives grace to the humble. When I finally end flat on my face, I lift my arms to Him and tell Him I’m finally ready to do this WITH Him and on His strength rather than on my own weakness.
Over and over again, He is faithful to let me know that it’s okay. He lifts me up.
I was doubting Him in July about raising my support. Again I was trying to do it all on my own, but when I finally laid aside my pride, I prayed that He would show me who He wanted to support me…
Earlier in May, I was wondering how I was going to pay for all things I had to buy the coming summer for the World Race (my tent, sleeping pad, etc). One afternoon, I had a friend just hand me a $150 gift-card to Half Moon Outfitters. She said she wasn’t going to use it and wanted me to have it. She had no idea of my worries about buying my gear. So in July, I was in Half Moon Outfitters for 15 minutes and my knee surgeon walks in. As I am literally standing there with all my camping gear for the World Race, my doctor walks over to me and asked how I was doing and what I was up to these days. [Well…. God’s perfect timing or what?]
As I told my surgeon what I was doing, the first thing he said to me was that He wanted to support me. I was in awe of God’s provision and faithfulness. If you have read my other blogs about my story on how I came to saying yes to 11 countries in 11 months… My knee brace that I was wearing the 3rd day I was in Costa Rica is what led the World Racer’s to stop me on the street. They didn’t stop just because we were Americans, they stopped to talked to my group because they wanted to pray for my knee. And now, the surgeon who fixed my knee up and sent me to Costa Rica is supporting me prayerfully and financially to go on the World Race.
What kind of King leaves His throne to do these things for His people? This is amazing grace. Jesus is all wrapped up in my life… every detail and every moment. He not only died for me to have eternal life but He lives with me every day. Jesus. It’s all about Him. And seeing that at training camp made it that more confirming that I am right where I need to be… Humbled and sitting in God’s perfect timing.
