Coming into the World Race the primary thing they teach us is to not have expectations. This month I learned truly why expectation could hinder you from experiencing the race to the fullest. Coming into this month there was a lot of speculation going around about what it would be like. We were given few details but the ones we were given made this month sound like a dream. We were going to the second largest city in Moldova, there was a beach, free public wifi was easy to find and there were amazing restaurants we needed to try. We would even be living right outside of the city with our own cook for the month. Now with this little information my mind began to go wild about how amazing this month would be. Not only this but 3 of the all girls teams would stay together this month so I did not have to say goodbye to everyone just yet.
Well let’s just say my expectations were quickly shattered. As we pulled up on the bus to what are new home would be my heart sank into my stomach. One girl even said, “He must just be turning around here.” Well our driver was not turning around, this concentration camp look a like building was going to be our new home. As they walked us up to the door we found our bedroom is a big empty concrete room where all 23 of us will sleep. Even further we walk to our bathroom, a wooden outhouse with a hole cut in the floor. And by the way we are told we have to walk 30-45 minutes to get wifi. Now my first response was laughter, “You have got to be freaking kidding me! Is this real life?” I was mad, frustrated, and even terrified of how the heck I am going to get through this month. I told myself over and over its only one month you can get through it.
It has only been 3 days here and God has already brought upon a paradigm shift. This concrete building is already becoming home to me. We may only have dirty mattresses lined on the ground and we are living with the bare essentials but we have more than everything we need. God has placed 23 women who are his daughters together in one place, now if you cannot see the potential for some incredible stuff to happen this month you must be blind. We spent the first night here in a time of worship and the peace of God just rushed over me. My initial perspective of this building was that it was hell on earth and that God was just trying to teach me a lesson. But truly God has given me a gift this month. As we sat around watching Mulan on my computer last night God spoke to me, “This is community, welcome to your new life. Every one of these girls has a gift from me to give to you but you can only receive it if you are open.”
So here I sit in an empty concrete room with women of God surrounding me and there is no other place I would rather be. God’s presence is in this room and I am expecting for Him to drastically move in our lives this month.
So I ask you is there an area in your life that you need to let God shift your perspective on? Don’t be so focused on the negative that you miss the treasure within the chaos.
