I love learning about different countries and cultures. Something that I have been made aware of about the culture of the Dominican is their belief in community. Our contact here is a woman named Emily; she is completely awesome and has very much immersed herself into the community here in San Juan. She told us that the people have such a strong belief in community that if a family has no food for a day, they can go to their neighbor and ask for food, knowing that if their neighbor has some, they will share. The neighbor also knows that if the need comes in their own life and they lack food for a day, they can return to the neighbor and receive anything that they have to spare. This is the expectation and the standard: if you have food and your neighbor needs some, you will provide for their needs in return for having your needs met next time.
I was thinking about this concept, comparing it to our own culture… And as you can guess, the comparison came up somewhat lacking. We lack that spirit of community in our country and culture; ours is one where we fight for our rights and what we deserve and no one can take them away from us. Its all about me: what can I do, where can I live, how much money can I make, how successful/happy/secure can I be. However, it scares me more when I see that tight grasp on “my rights” become a part of the Christian church of America. We are called to live in community, Romans 12:4 says “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” Are we fighting for our brothers and sisters needs as much as our own? Cause without them, the body of Christ is like a man without a foot: crippled and unable to function in the manner it was created for.
So I come before you today to fight for the needs of another in the body of Christ, my sister and teammate, Brittany Letsinger. Her support account, currently resting at around $4,000, is in need of $10,300 for the remainder of this race. I am writing this as a petition to you, the body of Christ, to pray and support Brittany, who being united in the spirit are just as connected to this girl as I am. Brittany has been fighting for the Kindom alongside myself since we started the race July 5th and even before that as she prayed for us, her teammates, months before we had ever even met. In bringing this need before you guys, I invite you to join in us in a day of prayer and fasting for the financial needs of our squad, starting tonight and ending tomorrow evening.
You may wonder: “Shawndell, what about your support? Are you yet fully funded?” The answer to that is no, I am not. Right now God has provided me with around $9,300, lacking only $5,300, which I have no doubt that He will provide. I come before you with the request for my teammate in the attitude of the church in Acts 2:44-45, “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their posessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” As I intercede on behalf of Brittany, I know my needs are being brought before the Lord by the rest of my teammates and squadmates. Brittany has a need, let’s do something about it!
If the Lord is moving you to support those on our squad who are needing funds, you can visit the links below and donate directly into their support accounts. Doing so would not only bless those individuals, but I know it would bless the socks off myself and the rest of P-squad as well as you bring life to a part of our body that needs your prayers and support. May God bless you and make His face shine upon you and give you peace!
www.brittanyletsinger.theworldrace.org
