Today marks the halfway point of the Race. Five and a half months down, five and a half months to go. It seems like years ago that I was sobbing through the airport security line, glancing back for last glimpses of my family (FYI- they get you through security as fast as possible when you’re sobbing through the line…. I guess they’re not sure what to do with you!)
Even writing this, I’m not sure what to write. How do you sum up five and a half months in a single blog?
Guatemala
-The whole squad burning lies we have believed, declaring freedom and truth.
-Piling into the back of a huge truck to drive down the road to see a squadmate’s baptism at a public swimming pool
-Watching the precious children in the orphanage dance and sing on one of our last nights during a party at the orphanage.
-Worship on the dock at Lake Atitlan, praising God for the beauty all around us.
-Learning to walk in my identity as a daughter of the King.
Lake Atitlan
El Salvador
– Riding in the bed of a truck while it pours down rain…. For an hour!
-Painting days…. Which translates as a day off, going to the lake, relaxing by the pool
– Attending church approximately six times a week, helping with the kids or leading worship many of those times.
-Seeing God even in the dark places (prison, hospital, garbage dump).
-Growing in faith, believing that God can do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine.
The trash dump
Nicaragua
- REAL Thanksgiving dinner with our incredible hosts.
- Sleepover with five incredible women who had never had one before… hearing them laugh and watching them love after hard times on the streets.
- Saying goodbye to Carly (our squad leader), knowing that Steven was probably correct in saying she would be back again….. and then seeing her a few days later because it turns out he was right!
- Surrendering doubts about what God is able to do, surrendering my pride and all the walls I’ve built inside.
Fun at the sleepover
Philippines
- Celebrating Christmas in a nice hotel room with my teammates after a hard month.
- Bucket showers.
- Trudging through sewage water in our plaid rubber boots to get back to our house.
- Staring up at the stars with a sweet little boy who then fell asleep on my shoulder.
- Surrendering my life to God… my wants, my desires, my selfishness.
Lined up for a feeding
Thailand
- Meeting my friend Mac in the coffee shop, doing the crossword puzzle with him, celebrating his birthday at trivia night, and realizing he was family when we said goodbye two weeks later.
- Playing Connect Four, Pool, and Jenga with the girls in the bars… and walking home full of joy afterward.
- Banana-nutella rotee, pad thai, cheap smoothies, mango sticky rice
- Hanging on for dear life as we rode elephants
- Beginning to understand that in my weakness, He is made strong.
My new friend, Mac!
Ready for a night out in the bars!
Malaysia
- Meeting G-squad our first night here, praying with them until 4am
- Seeing small improvements in the precious kids as they learn the school routine and get used to all of us being there.
- Penhop (Penang House of Prayer). Blog about our night at Penhop coming soon.
A morning at the kindergarten
Reflecting on all God has done and shown me in the past five and a half months gives me a reason to look forward to the next five and a half months, as well as a reminder to live in each day and each moment because I won't be able to go back and relive any of them!
Praising God for all He has done and is going to do!
