As another holiday season has come and gone, this year was very different; being I spent this year in Africa on the World Race. This is the first year that I haven’t been in NC with family and friends. I imagined this would be very hard and challenging but the Lord provided me with such a peace of mind this season. Don’t get me wrong, I miss my family and friends dearly but what I am doing for the betterment of the Kingdom is much more important than my personal contentment. The Lord has shown me that all I need is Jesus and with Him I find fulfillment. These days He is all I desire and to follow the plans that He has for my life. An example of this is my personal desire to marry one day, Lord willing, and I only desire it now if it is the Lord’s plan for my life. When I listen to what He has for me, it is much sweeter than my own thoughts, and I always come out on the better end of His plan.
Finding contentment in the Lord means that there is nothing on this earth that I need more than Him. Nothing I could acquire or gain on this earth from people to things could fulfill me like Jesus does. Family, friends, and fellow squad mates make this journey in life much more desirable. People contribute so much into my life and pour themselves into me but I know my life wouldn’t be full without the Lord. When they pour into me it is the best when this comes from the Lord. I love how the Lord gave this to me right now, as I am spending 11 months away from home and anything familiar. He is funny in the way that His timing is always the best and His life lessons come at the perfect time.
A glimpse of Christmas on the Race- Christmas Eve I spent the whole day prepping for Christmas dinner for the squad and baking literally 100’s of cookies/baked goods for Q squad. We had a beautiful evening service to celebrate the birth of our wonderful Savior, complete with the Christmas story and candlelight by our headlamps. Woke up Christmas morning to prepare Christmas breakfast, which included homemade cinnamon rolls, fruit salad, and omelets. I had breakfast with my team and afterwards we did a secret Santa gift exchange where I received my first yoga mat and 3 in 1’s(the most amazing coffee: coffee, cream, and sugar in one packet). A two-hour nap to rest from the sugar overload then it was time to begin Christmas dinner. This dinner included hams, mashed potatoes, candied butternut squash, mac-n-cheese, green beans, homemade challah bread, and TONS of desserts. Desserts ranged from 1000s of sugar cookies, 400 chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter balls, magic bars, no bake cookies, ranger cookies, and lots of sugar. After all the eating festivities, partaking in a “white elephant” gift exchange with my squad completed the evening. It was required to be something sacrificial from your pack and so much fun! I had a great time and it was really awesome to see what my squad mates gave up for one another.
The day ended with me having the opportunity to call and talk to my family to wish them a Merry Christmas. It was a wonderful day and full of such joy, just a much different way than I have experienced in my past. All I know is the Lord abundantly blessed and provided me with such a wonderful Christmas season for 2013. I am not sure what New Year’s will look like being as we are flying to India on the 30th. It has been a great 2013-year which included applying and preparing for the World Race, to leaving behind my life to follow the Lord around the world. Again thank you for your support, prayers, and love on this journey! I have had time the last few days to really reflect over the first 6 months of the Race and so pumped to see what the Lord has for the next 5 months. Not only the next 5 months of the Race but also the rest of my life. Sending my love and prayers from Africa!
