The Butterfly Effect – Seeing as how I'm not one for a whole lot of theory, in layman's terms it's the idea that a butterfly could beat it's wings in China and cause a change in the weather patterns in America to create tornadoes or some other major weather event. An incredibly small input/incident could create an incredibly enourmous and often times unpredictable output/incident.
Team Monarch – We came together for the first time early Friday afternoon and were told that our first task right after that was to make a memory as a team. For me, I had no idea how much that one task would change my perspective on things. I was ecstatic to be placed with the individuals I found myself with. I love everyone on this squad, but there is something special about this group of six others. So our first decision was to get out of the camp grounds for the afternoon, heading to Walmart first to get some passport photos taken for a couple of folks who still needed them for visas. On the way to the Walmart, maybe a 20 minute drive, we were discussing what we could do with our time that afternoon. Leah spoke up to say that she felt like we should go to a nursing home or hospital and see if the management would allow us to visit with and spend time with folks living there or the patients being treated there. We all thought it was a great idea, but Walmart was on the agenda first. We pull up to Walmart, and parked right next to it is this.
Immediately, I think we all thought the same thing. Way too much of a coincidence. Right next to the Walmart was a cancer treatment center/building called The Hope Center. And I think without really discussing it too much, we all sort of knew that was the place we were going to go to. Passport pictures are taken so we head next door to The Hope Center. Just inside the front door is this large plaque on the wall talking about the Monarch Butterfly. It described the Monarch as…
- The butterfly emerges from the chrysalis into new fullness of life.
- The beautiful Monarch displays steadfast perseverance through its lifecycle.
- It travels 500 miles to lay eggs on the right plants that will nourish its next generation.
As World Racers, we are just now emerging from our old selves into that new fullness of life we have been called to. We desire to live out our lives in steadfast perseverance to God and the plan He has for our lives. Through what we will be doing, we hope to plant seeds throughout this race which will grow and nourish not only this current generation we are serving, but future generations as well.
So we enter the building and are eventually led to an office area on the second floor. A few of us wait out in the hallway, since 7 random people blitzing the office staff probably isn't the best way for us to convince them to let us hang out for a bit, while the others go in and talk to management explaining what we wanted to do. The room we are outside of by the way was appropriately named "All God's Children." Eventually we are told that they've never actually had someone ask to do what we were asking to do, and as a result, felt that they should decline our request to just spend time with some of their patients. They did tell us however that we could still pray on the behalf of the patients and staff there, so we took ourselves outside.
We walked around the building a couple of times with everyone praying boldly over the building, the patients, the doctors, and all of the families that were utilizing the facility. I think it's pretty safe to say it was a moving experience for all of us. Once we'd finished, we all once again quickly reached the same conclusion and felt drawn to the team name of Monarch. Leah had her camera on her and went back in to take a picture of the plaque while the rest of us went to go get our cameras. By the time we got in, Leah and Jesse had struck up a conversation with a woman named Connie.
Connie was there for her very first cancer treatment. In speaking with her, we came to find out that she just had a new grandbaby that was born and her desire was to hold him and watch him grow up. We asked to pray for her and she obliged us. What took place over the next 15 or 20 minutes I'll always remember. We prayed fervently and boldly speaking life into her. Speaking healing into her body. Declaring that she would be free of cancer and that she would live to see her new grandson grow up. This whole time, she continuely is saying, "Thank you Jesus," "Thank you Lord," "Halleujah," and "I just want to live." Amongst other things. Finally we finish. Tears in everyone's eyes and tears streaming down Connie's face. Over by the elevator is another woman who was watching us. Before getting on the elevator she exclaimed, "God is so awesome!"
I think it was in that moment that we all realized that 8 lives had changed. Not just Connie's. And I truly believe that she will survive her cancer and we will one day hear from her that she's done so. But for the 7 of us as well. I think that realization hit at that moment that this isn't just some cookie cutter mission trip. This just isn't something that once it's over, all we'll say is, "That was a good time." or "That was nice." We saw first hand what the power of God can do in our lives, through our lives, and into the lives of others. We might have made an impact on Connie's life, but I can guarantee that she definitely changed ours.
A butterfly beat it's wings that day. I don't know what the final impact or outcome will be. But I can promise you that it'll be bigger than we ever imagined at that moment. Something beautiful is now emerging from the chrysalis.
