It’s hot in Columbia, they would say famously so. Regardless of the heat, I took at break from work by sitting outside drinking a gallon of water around 9:00AM this morning. I love to people watch. Running down the street in a pair of Nike shorts and a tank top was a small sweaty female figure. She took a left out of my line of sight, then hung an abrupt U-turn and ran right up to me.
First words: “Hey! I hope this isn’t weird, but…”
The girl’s name was Dyer and she showed me a picture of my World Race announcement on Instagram and proceeded to tell me that she too was going on the World Race in January! What?!
Anyway, she talked in broken sentences (it’s hot here) and I smiled and we both agreed that the Lord was so cool. Dyer is on loan here from California working in my little city! It just so happened that she recognized my face at the man who had served her coffee before and made the connection that we would be on the race together. I mean come on, Jesus loves to remind us that we are not alone.
I have the privilege of being accepted on this trip; I recognize it as a gift, but during the interviewing and application process I see how daunting the deadlines and financial processes are. It feels big, almost too much so. Like the wait – am I crazy for doing this – I need to sit down sort of feeling. I want to speak well of the Lord. I want to hold hurting people. I want to provide for them. I want to partner with organizations on ground level in the 11 countries I will go to. I want to see practical gifts. I want to see miracles. I want to love on the unloved. And I get to, Lord willing.
I am often reminded of Matthew 6 – I worry, but Jesus reminds me I don’t need to, that we are taken care of. I often try to control. It gets me in trouble. Yet, Jesus promises are the same, even to people who forget like I forget.
So I wanted to say I was thankful for Dyer for literally running up to me, we are not alone!
