A little over one month ago my team hiked into the Nepali Jungle to share the gospel in remote villages. I was so excited to start with, but it ended on a whole different note: broken…
When I first found the Race, I remember being captivated by all the potential adventure. The rough conditions, the hiking, and the backpacking all won me over. I wanted that kind of adventure while learning more about God and how to share the gospel. I desired to go into remote areas and test myself physically and mentally for Jesus; when this opportunity in Nepal presented itself, I was ready.
You see, my Race has not been what I had expected. It hasn’t been physically uncomfortable. I have used my tent once, for an adventure day. I have taken maybe three bucket showers total. I have prepared my own food every month except in Ecuador. I only did bucket laundry for two months out of the 7. And I have slept in a bed most of the Race. Therefore, I shouted to the heavens when I learned my team was going to use our gear, trek, and share the gospel in the jungle of Nepal.
Our hike began with crossing the same river at least 25 times, swim breaks, spelunking into caves, journeying through corn fields, crossing swinging bridges, eating raw ramen noodles, and enjoying the flat terrain while we had it. At the end of day we ascended up into the mountains and our became more challenging. We finished past dark and were awaken at 10:30 pm for dinner; I am not sure what we ate that night…
The next morning we rose early and started straight towards more mountains. Along the way we had noodles and mountain dew for breakfast, witnessed a water buffalo about to be slaughtered, fought to walk through the dense cornfields, hiked on trails that were not trails, drank more mountain dew, ate more noodles, played with some kids, and lathered ourselves up with a plant called Teetepoti, for the leeches were coming.
Yes, I wrote leeches, and they are not like leeches at home. They are in the trees and on the ground and as you walk they hope to find themselves crawling up your shoes or in your hair to then find a place to suck your blood until they burst, are pulled off, or fall off….It was traumatising!
Thus, day two was a long day in the mountains and it ended with all of us exhausted, one teammate injured, and one sick with a bug. We were happy to sleep that night, but before we did, we met the preacher of the church in which we were sleeping.
He told us about his life and the life of the church. He told us how on every Sunday over 200 people show up to worship and on holidays it can be up to 500. We sat exhausted and in disbelief first that so many people lived where we were and second that they already knew Jesus. Literally, we were in the middle of nowhere and I was shocked to find out the gospel had already made it there.
The next morning we awoke to fresh cut pineapple and headed up the mountain to visit the pastor’s other church. Upon arriving the pastor decided to have service and asked if we would lead it, so naturally we quickly gathered our plan and began. As people filed into the small building and their light invaded the room, I stood up to preach. I shared about choosing joy and walking out of fear, my teammates then led some worship, and we all closed in praying over the congregation. We asked for healings, salvations, and endurance. We were the first foreigns to ever reach their village and the first white people they had ever seen. I was humbled and in awe as we said our goodbyes and descended down the mountain.
Our hike back though turned out to be even more difficult with more leeches, sketchy trails, sore muscles, few breaks, many raw ramen noodles, and complete exhaustion. When we arrived to our stopping point we were all so happy to see civilisation again, but suddenly I began to feel a deep sadness overtake me.
My whole Race and most of my blogs are about God transforming me through daily life experiences and not all my eye opening moments have happened while seeing or doing incredible things,some have come to me literally on the toilet. My point being is that God loves to speak and transform us into more of who He is whenever He wants. On this hike God chose to peel back another part of what I am discovering may be a giant onion.
This was a dream for me. I wanted to hike up into the mountains, go somewhere remote, share jesus, play with kids, hold babies, and bring kingdom in the wilderness. I wanted to watch crazy miracles happen, see salvations, plant churches, and interact with indigenous people. What I didn’t want to do was still deal with myself.
I realized on this hike how much I wanted the hike to be about others and ministry. My team hiked days into the jungle to love other people, and God was still showing me ways I could grow.
You would think I get this by now, that life is a journey and there is always more to grow in and that God will use everything my whole life to teach me about who I am in Him. But, I got really good at hiding and focusing on serving other people. I put expectations on when I can grow and when I can’t. I put false expectations even on the World Race.
If you think you can come on the World Race to not deal with yourself and run away from your mess, let me tell you can’t. If you think you will come on the Race and just deal with the things you think you need to work on, prepare yourself- there will be lots more. If you come on the Race to escape and hide in exciting adventures, new cultures, crazy miracles, mine blowing salvations, and days of traveling it will not hide you. I can tell you this because every Racer realizes it to some degree; I realized it.
While hiking in the Nepali jungle God shattered my expectations of this Race and how I would prefer to live my life through hiding behind task, people, and adventures. I wasted special opportunities to bless people and environments by hiding myself and my giftings. I missed out on some of the blessings I could have received in return.
Hiding ourselves is not just a World Race problem, it is a everyday problem. Whether you are a future racer, a current racer, a parent, an adult, a teenager, or a elder chose bringing your full, God-designed self everywhere you go. You have giftings, you have God-given dreams, you have worth, you are needed and God wants to use you.
Don’t waste your life, or the rest of it, by hiding.
Seek out who God made you to be and let that person be seen.
Believe Me it is so much easier and less disappointing.
