My squad hasn’t seen anyone leave the race before the 11 months is over but many other squads have seen their teammates go home because of discomforts. If there is one thing I’ve learned on the race is that I am privileged and self centered. I want things my way and I want to do them in my time. Though I have grown in this area tremendously in the past 4 years, there is a lot more growing for me in so many areas and it will never stop.
I am guessing you’re probably shocked that people raise all this support and go home after only 2 or 4 months on the field. I know I was when I found out people quit.
I believe that God uses that thrill of adventure to get us to go on an adventure. We think it will be one way but in reality God has different plans than ours, his plans.
Ministry is amazing and you meet so many people who change your life along the way. Adventure days can be amazing and you see/do things you have had on your bucket list for years. Yes, those days are great!!! I know my videos have shown a lot of different fun moments that I have had. You have seen and heard about my ministry sites and the fun we have had.
But..
I’m not talking about those days. I’m talking about the days that you wake up and you pray that you don’t have to go to ministry because you’re exhausted. The days that you start at 9 and don’t end until 9 at night. The months that you sleep on the floor and have minimal water in your living area or even when you are served the exact same meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The times that you seriously just want to have a bad attitude but know that it won’t honor anyone by doing it; so you give it up to Jesus and ask for grace in the exhaustion, pain and frustration.
Even though it is hard and I feel like I am gasping for air, all day sometimes. It’s in those places that I am changing/growing. It’s okay that the race can be hard. I am thankful that even though I’ve had hard times throughout I haven’t sat in my hurt and frustration. Each hour, day, week and month is teaching me to be more faithful and consistent to what he has called me to.
Please don’t misunderstand, I am not saying that things just “feel” better instantaneously, they don’t. Even as I type this I am sad because I miss being at home and I miss my family, friends and church. It’s humbling though to see the places that God is growing me just by being here.
So even though gasping for air sucks and never feels good that doesn’t mean it isn’t good. It’s really good! I’m thankful that I get to sacrifice the things at home to learn and bring kingdom here where I’m at right now. I want to be a person who walks against the current and doesn’t stop doing things because they are hard. We have a generation of people who quit because things are not comfortable but I am not one of them. So even though today has been hard, tomorrow is a new day.
Prayer requests:
*My team would give all we have over these last 2 weeks in Albania
*Continued Joy
*my team to continue to talk in unity
