Hello there friends, family, loved ones, and perhaps strangers,
Today I find myself writing my last blog post from Pretoria, South Africa as the end of month 2 is upon us. Soon I will be venturing to Manzini, Swaziland to start month 3 of ministry. As is custom of World Race culture, I haven’t a clue what accommodations will look like, how long it will actually take to reach our destination, if I’ll have internet or what day we are even leaving to Swaziland. I am excited, though, and prayer for safe travels would be appreciated. Until I post again, whenever that may be, I want to leave you with 2 things.
First, a brief financial update, as of the 28th of October my World Race account stands at $9,414. 67. By December 1st I am to have $11,000 in my account to continue on the race. If you feel so led, please feel free to donate by clicking on the link provided. All the details for donations are on my World Race homepage: http://lynettealegria.theworldrace.org/
Second, I want to leave you with a Psalm-like prayer I wrote a few days ago after starting to read a book called “1,000 Gifts” by Ann Voskamp. It is a phenomenal, poetic, beautiful book; if you have never read it, I suggest picking up a copy. As I started to read, I realized that I had not written any sort of poetry since starting the race, which is unlike me. So I sat down and wrote a little something straight from the heart of me. Do enjoy. 🙂
O, my King there is a certain sadness of gratitude welling up inside me.
I give thanks to You for being a good and holy God.
God, though you are good, good indeed, that does not exempt one from the human experience of pain, suffering, loss, at least not on this side of eternity.
Perhaps those 3 things have been houses of fear built up in me.
I succumb to the pain more often that not realizing that the way of this world is so far from Yours. Still, you call us to abandon, to take the journey with only You, that requires such great faith, such large hope, such immense trust, such reckless abandon.
My God, to bear with you is such a privilege; help me to see with eternal lenses. I thank you that your word says the poor will be rich in faith. Such hope for the hopeless is magnificent. Help me to rest in that.
O Lord, what is this pain welling up in me? Is it the hope of love?
The counting of the cost? I seek to say,
You are worth it all, but I am one of so little faith.
My heart fears more often than not. Rescue me from my demise.
May a wellspring of gratitude well up in me, let me give birth to joy, may praise and thanksgiving pour forth from my lips–
may it simply be the wellspring of my heart dripping love for You.
Let me see the splendor You have provided.
Open my eyes, my ears, my heart to Your glory spilt out and singing before me, around me, everywhere.
O my God, I long to bask in Your glory, to sit in the stillness of You, to behold You creation with child fixation, to walk, run, leap, dance, in the freedom You have called me to.
I desire to sit with love divine, a crown of beauty upon my head, all reaching, all singing, to You, my King.
You give me beauty. You give me hope. You give me You.
Lynette
