December 30th 2011
6AM: the sun is so hot-i woke up in a puddle of sweat. i can hear the waves crashing on the shore..i open my tent door and a gush of wind blows sand into my face..today is another day;a day just like any other.
8:30AM: breakfast was the usual-beans, rice, and eggs with a little bit of hot sauce to add some flair…after breakfast my team and team kaleo decided to take a swim in the ocean..debrief was our vacation-we had the perfect plan: eat, sleep, tan, & swim! and nothing was getting in the way of that!
8:45AM: the water was really shallow-so we were all jumping waves and swimming under them as they crash either on our heads or the person behind us..it was fun & games!
8:50AM: the waves started to get really rough…so my squadmates Thomas & Mickey and my teammate Kearston were out the furthest and we decided to head back towards the shore.
8:52AM: i caught myself falling further and further behind…while i was swimming harder and harder..the ground all of a sudden disappered from under my feet…
CRASH!-the first wave hit me right on the head:i didnt see it coming…i was under water searching for the surface and finally came up and looked around-i was alone everyone was so much futher in than i was..
8:53AM: i started yelling for my squadmates & teammates to come get me because the current kept pulling me futher and futher back.
CRASH!-the second wave hit me, this time forcing me to do flips under the water…and fighting that much harder to find the surface.
8:55AM: i come up gasping for air-and fear started to sink in..i just knew that i was going to drown!
CRASH!-the third wave took me under
8:57AM: i come out of the water with tears streaming down my face…
CRASH!-the fourth wave hit me and i started to pray under the water…because i knew if one more wave hit i would drown! i had no more strength and no time to catch my breath!
8:59AM: as i come up for the fourth time..the water was completely calm..i started doggie-paddling in as i saw my squadmate Thomas coming towards me..
9:00AM: i grabbed Thomas' hand and right in that moment i realized that God had given me a second chance at life! i survived the most dangerous waves in Nicaragua! i had made it out alive…I WAS STILL BREATHING!!
that day could have had a very different ending…when i was in the water all i could think about was my family-and if they would be proud of what ive done…was God proud of me?…if i would have died in the waves of Nicaragua..would i have left a legacy behind? i dont want to be famous..but i want people to know in their hearts that i have do everything to glorify my Heavenly Daddy!!
I have never been that close to death..and now to think about it..it doesnt even seem real..but i wouldnt ever want to take that experience back..it gave me a new outlook on life! and though i may be afraid of the ocean now..im not ashamed of this story, of this incident! because it taught me so much!
the first three months of the race have been extremely hard for me! i was constantly negative and wanting to go home..my heart wasn't in it..and after this experience i realized that ive given up a lot to be here! my parents gave me up for a year…i have put people through heartache and ive been through some crazy homesickness! and i know that its normal to miss my family..but ive allowed it to control my ministry! i havent been present!
what am i living for? daddy has given me SUCH AN AMAZING oppurtunity and im being selfish and taking it for granted!
so with this new year i have promised myself & God that i was turning over a new leaf…he could have easily taken me home that day..but he didnt, he has bigger plans for me..he has things that i still have to accomplish! so from now on everytime i take a breath i thank God for it! and everytime i wake up-i see it as a day to glorify God! i ask God "what do you have for me today, how can i better your kingdom?" and as for the race…11 months is 2 mins. compared to a eternity with God and i want to devote my life to the next 8 months! i want to give it everything inside of me! and see what God has for me through the crazy journey im on..
i didnt tell you this story to freak you out..or for you to be scared for me..because this could have happened back home..dont worry, im safe! God is my protector and he has shown me through praying and seeking him that he has a plan for me…so i dont want you to think that this a dangerous trip or that i shouldnt have come on the world race-but i do want to think of yourself…
if you were to die today…what would you want your last day to look like? would you want to skydiving or bungee jumping..or would you call everybody you have ever hurt and apologize? how would you spend your last day? thats a hard question right?!? not something we think about a lot , even though the bible talks about tomorrow not being promised..we feel as humans we are entitled to 80 years of life..but we never know when it may be over…
God has promises for each and everyone of us! he has specific plans for our lives, but its our responsibility to accept and walk into that destiny that he has layed before us..so its your choice-are you living for what God wants you to live for..or what makes YOU happy?
when i was praying about this experience God gave me this verse:
Genesis 28:15 (the message)-Yes. I'll stay with you, I'll protect you wherever you go, and I'll bring you back to this very ground. I'll stick with you until I've done everything I promised you.
God has a plan for me..and though i have 8 more countries to go, he will take me back home..& he will be right beside me through the whole ordeal! i can walk in faith and trust that he has his hand around me..so dont worry..this a journey for me to learn-to share my stories-and tovchange lives while bringing people closer to my heavenly daddy!
　
　
