You know, going on the race, I knew I came to serve. I knew I came to spread Kingdom, and I knew that this journey was all about loving with the love of my Father. I knew that I would see things that would push me, and I went into this knowing that I would be stretched farther than I could ever imagine. I would work hard, play hard, and love hard. I would be a teacher and a student, a reaper and a sower, a sister and a friend.
But I didn’t know it would be this exhausting.
I am exhausted. And not just a, “I haven’t slept in awhile” kinda exhaustion, but rather a, “I’ve pushed myself for months on end, and I am done” sort of deal. This season of my race has been one of trial upon trial, wave after wave, and disappointment on top of disappointment, and if I’m being honest with myself, this has been the hardest stretch of my race. My worrisome heart has been ever so restless, and the brokenness of my life has created the most catastrophic of wreckages. Going into months 7 and 8, my teammates and I were fighting the fight to stay present, and more often than not, the odds were not in our favor, and after awhile, I lost sight of the beauty behind this mission we had set out upon.
However, despite the exhaustion, the anxiety, and the constant uphill battle to stay present, the Lord has been good and faithful (per usual) by filling my cup in the most unexpected of ways. I just wanted to take a second and share a few of the encounters I’ve had over these past few weeks that have proven to me how sweet the body of Christ can be because they have rocked my world!
Two weeks ago, our American missionary friend had his father and youth pastor come down for the weekend to visit, but because they left for the beach upon their arrival, our only interaction with them was in passing. Sunday morning rolls around and his youth pastor stands up in front of our Guatemalan congregation and, to our surprise, proudly announces, “There are 13 wonderful young women sitting in the back here, and we are going to take them on a date tonight. Ladies, you won’t be disappointed.” That night, they took us to get dessert at one of the top ten nicest hotels in the world simply to love us well. These two men, with whom we’d only had one very brief interaction with, treated us like princesses, showered us with words of encouragement, and poured unconditionally into us simply because. “We are so proud of you,” these practical strangers said, “we both have daughters and can’t imagine having them leave for us 9 months… You, women, are doing a good work. We have so much respect for you and all that you’ve done. Thank you” At the end of the night, they passed around a sheet of paper and asked us to write our names down and any prayer requests we might have so that they could pray for us by name.
Two strangers. One body of Christ. And a night that filled my team and I in ways I couldn’t even imagine. With teary-eyes and spirits high, we walked away feeling loved, known, and appreciated all because two men, practical strangers, felt a tug on their heart to take 13 missionary girls on a date.
Along with our Guatemalan church, we also attend an English-speaking, American church located in the middle of the city’s center called “Shoreline.” It’s a branch of a church located in Dallas, Texas, and it’s filled with the most welcoming people you’ll ever meet. Once a month, Shoreline hosts a women’s night, “Sisterhood,” a night where we come together to discuss the crowns worn upon our heads as daughters of the King and the battles we’ve been called to fight as young women. This Wednesday, a sorority from Baylor University was here in Antigua for a weeklong mission trip, and we were lucky enough to have two of their girls join our table for the night to talk about the battles we’re facing and how we, as sisters, can support and encourage one another. At the end of the event, one of the sorority girls pulled us aside and said, “Would you mind if I prayed for you guys and your last month of ministry?”
So there we stood, once again, surrounded by total strangers who simply wanted to encourage us in this crazy journey we’re on through prayer. I didn’t know the girl, she didn’t know us, but we’re sisters, and that’s what sisters are for, right? Encouragement. Prayer. Kingdom building conversations.
And as “Sisterhood” came to a close at 9:00 Wednesday night, we walked out of the doors to find all the male church staff along with various guys from the congregation waiting outside to make sure we got home safely.
“Where do you guys live again? Would you like us to walk you home?”
“Do you guys have a long walk to your cars?”
“Would you like us to call a taxi for you?”
“We want to make sure y’all get home safely, can we walk you to the taxi station?”
“Be safe, ladies. We’ll see y’all on Sunday!”
Once again, we were met with unprecedented kindness from the men in our congregation and were left awestruck at the thoughtfulness of it all. Just a bunch of guys wanting to make sure their sisters in Christ got home safely.
All of it seems so small: a couple of dollars spent on a dessert, a quick prayer before parting ways, and a simple gesture to make sure we got home safely. But it’s not small. These actions from strangers have impacted me in the grandest of ways and filled my spirit with a new life, and as a result, I’m walking out of this season with the deepest appreciation for the body of Christ. This season has been really tough for me, and in all honesty, I’m still wading in the thick of my brokenness, but the love I’ve been shown from the body of Christ has changed the course of this season in its entirety.
I say we’re strangers, us and these fellow believers, but we’re not really strangers at all. We’ve got the same Father, the same Savior, and the same Spirit dwelling within all of our hearts, so in reality, we’re just a big, happy family doing each of our parts in this Kingdom building adventure.
So, to my folks back home, thank you so much for loving me and my team well, for supporting us in prayer, and encouraging us every step of the way. Your prayers are felt, and your support is appreciated so much more than you could ever know. THANK YOU for being the body of Christ, for sending me out, and for helping me run this race. Just because I don’t see or talk to you on the daily doesn’t mean your efforts don’t go unnoticed… I couldn’t do this without you! I appreciate you so very much.
And to all the “strangers” out there who have loved me with the love of the Lord, thank you. I don’t even know you, and you’ve chosen to pour yourselves into my life, thus giving me the much needed boost for me to finish this race well.
The body of Christ is the most powerful thing I’ve encountered, made strong by the Father, united in the Spirit, and held together with the love of our sweet, sweet Savior. Let’s not underestimate ourselves, church. This is a wild ride, and we’re all in need of a helping hand, don’t be afraid to extend yours every once in a while. You’ll never know how much of an impact it could have!!!
