Almost my whole squad is gone from the hostel right now so I’m gonna see if I can’t pump out a blog, and see if I can’t update y’all on what’s going on in my world. So The Peck’s have left our team to become squad leaders! We wish them the best, and know they will do great!This next month we are going to be in Dando, Mozambique. We’re going to be living out of our tents and doing everything from church planting to hospital ministry to ministry in the bush! This is where the race really gets nitty gritty, and you know what, BRING IT ON! Because I know that when I come out on the other side ok, I will not only be a better man than I was before, but I will also be closer to God than I ever was before.
My goal this next month I think will be to be totally wrecked for Christ, what He wants for these next countries, and the children of His kingdom. The thought of this knowing it’s only a day and a bus ride away can be intimidating. I’ve heard multiple stories about the months on the race spent in Africa and Asia. They can be very intimidating, and I’m sure I probably don’t know what I’m getting myself into with that statement, but I know He has provided me with everything to not only survive but thrive in these next months.
My high school football coach would speak about this thrive vs. survive concept, and it’s been a phrase I love to apply to the race. I don’t want to just coast these next five months. Coasting is something that is deeply frowned upon in the athletics community. It implies that if you’re not striving for more than what you are now than your hurting the team. I apply this to the race in the since of if I’m not striving for more of Him or what He wants for me, then I’m only hurting myself. To remain stagnant or coast during a time as incubating as the race would be a huge ignored opportunity.
Now don’t get me wrong. I am a firm believer in resting in the Lord and recharging the spiritual, physical, and mental batteries. I fish, but more recently I try to do as little at debrief as possible. What I mean is that even though this might be the part of the race where our metaphorical legs might cramp up a little bit, and we might want to get a metaphorical bike to let us cruise the rest of the way in, my goal and what I want for every racer is to embrace the cramping legs and push through that metaphorical pain. The term we have adopted on Arise & Go has been, “Embrace The Suck!” It’s exactly what I want to do. When my flesh says, “man I would rather be at home chilling by Lake Lanier having a good time with friends,” I want my soul and heart to say, “Wow lets see how many kids we can l throw in the air today.”
This is my prayer for the next 5 months, and I want to be able to walk this out in the time I have left on the race. With Christ as my strength I know It is possible. Please Keep our new team in your prayers as we dive into these next five months. Thanks! Love y’all!
Be Blessed,
Steven Buffington
P.S. Here are my new teammates! Go check out their blogsand subscribe!
New Team Leader: Joey Willis http://joeywillis.theworldrace.org/
New Team mate: Kylie Grace Grabauskas http://kyliegrabauskas.theworldrace.org/
New Team mate: Lauren Leabhart http://laurenleabhart.theworldrace.org/
