At the end of my last Spring semester at PBA, my RA staff spent time giving each person a word we thought captured who they are. My co-RA, Troy, gave me the “MORE” and shared that I was someone who desired more, more of life, more for others, and more of God. Little did I know then that this was a prophetic word for the year I was heading into on the World Race.
Since the beginning of training for the World Race, the idea of experiencing and striving for “more” has been encouraged by our leaders. At the time of graduation in May, I knew that I desired more than the life I could live in the United States, I knew God had more for me, but it would take going way out of my comfort zone all throughout South America. I didn’t realize, however, just how much more I would experience in just the first 5 days of the race in Cartagena.
I have seen and experienced more of many things…
1. More of God. He is more than the God I knew in America; more than the God I had boxed in because I only had an understanding of how he is viewed through Western culture.
2. More community. There is always someone around, there is always someone to talk to, to love, to serve. My 5 teammates and I are staying in this home with about 20 others who are working for YWAM. Our mornings are filled with waiting in a line for the bathroom and shower, sweeping out the bedrooms, and spending time in God’s word with worship music in both English and Spanish playing in the background. In a community like this, I have found more joy, more gratitude, and more love.
3. More kingdom. Even on day 5 I have seen more of the coming of God’s kingdom. The staff and volunteers at YWAM Cartagena serve endlessly and selflessly to show the community the love of our Father. Their words and actions are a true example of living with a kingdom mindset and being the hands and feet of Jesus. And in my teammates and the other members of my squad I have seen kingdom work as we all dive headfirst into working alongside YWAM and loving on the people of Cartagena.
With it only being day 5 and already having experienced more in a lot of ways, I can’t fathom how much more God has for me the rest of the year. However, I will continue to say yes and be on expedition this year to discover the “more” that comes with a life with God.
For Christ and his kingdom, let’s all strive for more of God.
