I thought this blogging thing would be hard but I believe I'm becoming quite the blogger!
Today I turned 23 but I honestly didn’t expect much out of today. I mean, I just haven’t been trying to grow up as fast as time seems to go by. I can’t say I was soooo excited about it being my birthday. But I was wrong. I actually got a lot out of today which calls for some blogging. Just bear with me as I may ramble on in this one, and it may not necessarily all have to do with the World Race itself. I just feel like for each of you to truly be apart of this journey and to know how to pray for me, you need to sort of get in my head/heart. Besides, like I have mentioned before, the journey is taking place right now.
This week has been a tough one. So many frustrations with work, school, and what ever else, have really been getting to me. I have been so ready for the weekend to get here. At times I was just ready for the World Race to be here. God quickly reminded me of some things.
I was beginning to take things for granted again and becoming impatient. I prayed for so long about where God wanted me next and now that He has revealed that to me I’ve allowed myself to lose the focus of why He has me right here at this moment in time. This was all brought to my attention again today.
I began the day figuring that my “birthday celebration” at work would be a total flop considering that they needed me to work at a branch that I very rarely work at. Turns out, as soon as my co-workers found out it was my birthday they snuck a cake in without me even noticing. So as I was working a transaction at the drive thru window, everyone began to sing Happy Birthday and I quickly turned around to find everyone standing there, with one holding a cake. I didn’t expect that one bit and couldn’t help but have a big smile on my face. I continued to get happy birthdays from other co-workers from our three other branches. Not only did I have co-workers celebrating with me but also customers. At one of our branches, one of my favorite customers, Mrs. Sheila, dropped off a gift for me (packed with several things that may come in handy for the World Race) and then at another branch, a very special person (one of a few people I consider another mama), Mrs. Sandra, brought me a card with $50! We all love some money! 
Through the frustrations I was dealing with at work, I was forgetting just how blessed I am to have been given the opportunity to work there. I have met some awesome people and a life long buddy (Zachary). I truly have some awesome customers who I will be sad to not see everyday! Most of all, it's the mission field that God has placed me in for the time being.
I then went to spend the evening with my “second family”. Man how I love and have missed this family! They’ve recently moved to Cape Town, South Africa, back in February and are back for a few weeks visiting. We all grilled out and caught up after not seeing each other for a few months. I couldn’t help but find myself feeling a little sad as we would talk about old times. Not just for the simple fact that the time has gone by so quickly, but also being reminded that part of it was gone. Brian Timothy Buresh, their son of 19 years, passed away in a tragic motorcycle accident (Feb. 4, 2013) just a couple of weeks before they were scheduled to move to South Africa. That’s a night that will replay in my head over and over again. It’s the night I wish I had the power to change. The pain I wish I could take away. As much as it hurt me, I can’t even imagine the pain that Mrs. Ann (Mama Ann), Mr. Pete, Sean (someone I will always describe as my best friend even when the friendship seems distant), and Kevin have and will face after losing a son, brother, and best friend. Growing up, I always thought of him as a little brother. Something I always would say about him but never said to him, was that he was probably the nicest person I ever met since I first met him when I was only 13 and him, 11. Sometimes I would even say he was “too nice” if there’s even such a thing. The first time I met him was when the homeschooling association we were apart of went ice-skating. This was my first time ever attempting to ice skate and I sincerely thank God I made it out alive! I remember falling several times. Every time I fell I had this 11 year old come up to me helping me up as he encouraged me to keep trying, with words like, “it takes time, just get back up and try again.” and “You will get better!” Part of me felt sort of lame due to the fact that this 11 year old was awesome at ice-skating and I stunk at it. Then again, I was blown away by how nice and encouraging this little dude was! Instead of standing there laughing and making fun like most kids his age may do so, he was there being a helping hand and a encouraging word… That never changed about him and I wish I could have been that to him at some point or at least let him know that he was to me and others.
I may not have the opportunity to tell him now but he has encouraged me not to take each and every encounter with someone for granted. Life is to short for tearing someone down and being a blind eye. I want to be and share the love of God to everyone I come across because I may be the only bit of Jesus they know and we aren't promised tomorrow. Let’s not hold an encouraging word back… Death is only the beginning to eternity and we all have a specific time set aside for us and God has specific plan for that timing. So allow God to build that positive, life-changing impact that will take place in other people when that day comes! Brian’s story has impacted many right here in town, across the States, to the Dominican Republic, now headed to 11 different countries!
Where will yours go?
So yea, that basically sums up what I got out of today and I hope it’s an encouragement to those reading. I want to thank all those who have wished me a Happy Birthday and made this day as special as it was!!!
THANK YOU!!!
In Christ,
Matthew
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