Hello, Friends!!
I want to take a quick minute (or seven) to “chit-chat” about how life is going for me right now on the race. Note: Holding a coffee cup while reading this would help it feel like I’m imagining in my mind.
First, I should let you know that I’m on a new team! They scrambled up most of the teams in our squad to grow us in community. This is common on the race so we were all expecting the first big change. And, I’m one of those weird people who like change… like changing cultures, jobs, and climates every month! (Yay, race life!)
Team Radiant is our new team of 7 women (click to learn more about them on the sidebar) and we have been serving in Sofia and Bankya, Bulgaria this month. We are with a local congregation that also runs a seminary. On weekdays, we spend our time unpacking a mountain of boxes full of donated books and sort them into a new library. (They’re in English, thank goodness!) Then on the weekends we host bible studies, speak at church, and assist the children and youth ministries. Sorting the books is so awesome- seriously it?s really cool. I?ve discovered there are SO MANY BOOKS I want to read and dive into! I have a stack of six sitting right next to me at this moment- a little ambitious considering we only have about a week left here.
.jpg)
We jumped from Central America to Europe- It’s been such a change in cultures and climate! There is a puzzling contrast here in Bulgaria between bleak buildings and beautiful nature. People are shocked to see Americans traveling through Bulgaria, of all places, and we squeal cheerfully whenever we come across an English speaker in town. We enjoy our 30 minute train ride into the capitol city of Sofia- so European, haha. Honestly, I have to fight my natural tendency to fall asleep on any moving object (cars, planes, and now trains) almost every time, haha.
Admittedly, I’ve been spending more time actually reading my bible than I ever, ever have before and its like, duh, why haven’t I been doing this at home? For instance, I always thought it would be cool to know what order the books in the Bible are written, but never wanted to make flashcards and memorize it, but when you’re actually reading it you just start to know. Kind of like the more time you spend on a college campus the more you can know where certain buildings that focus on certain subjects are located. And, man, the Bible is beautiful, powerful, and speaks something new into my heart each time I spend a few minutes reading- not skipping around, but reading and flipping to the next page. You should try it!
A large part of the World Race journey for each racer is personal development. Naturally, this season causes many of us to grow in the face of many different challenges like seeing poverty, living in constant community and never being alone, to realizing this isn’t some magically different life and we can’t grow unless we put in some effort and be uncomfortable. I was talking today with Cait and Carly about how I think I’ve grown so far in these first 3.5 months. Besides my evolving, lifelong walk with Jesus, I feel like there is a maturity growing in my heart. I was a mature, capable adult before I came- but there is something in my core that is resting in who I am more and more comfortably. It’s pretty rad.
Some fun notes: I now have a short haircut and am loving it! People told me I am totally the person to pull this off- I found that shocking since the perception I had of myself was a bit more reserved, haha. I’ve started running, and, dare I say, I’m actually enjoying it! Still failing at laundry (as noted in my “about me”) as evidenced by my newly pink socks- but now I just pretend they are ballet slippers and that makes me SUPER happy. I am doing a one-day fast for the first time ever and am looking forward to the quiet times with my bible, some music, and Jesus. I pray every morning and every night for y’all back at home- that you would be blessed in your day, experience God in some way, and that, if you haven’t before, understand that God loves you beyond all imaginable reason- NO MATTER WHAT.
Until next time! (Sooner rather than later I hope)
