Day 18 of the World Race means waking up at 7:30 and being ready for breakfast at 8 am. It means routine and comfort. Day 18 means practicing new habits like morning quiet time with our Lord. Day 18 means really coming into what a community of 6 American girls in a foreign country looks like. Day 18 means I have already lost things, already miss things I didn’t bring, and already feel like I had no idea what I was getting into when packing my nearly 50 lb bag. Day 18 means finally resting in the fact that this is my life.
It is funny how time dances in and out of my everyday activities here in Bogota. I look at my watch and have 3 hours left with the wild kids in my class for that day, and then suddenly we are hugging and saying “adios” or “hasta manana!” and the day comes to a close. As I sit in the morning and follow my routine of coffee, devotion, journaling, and breakfast, I find awe in how quickly this life has settled into reality. It is really sweet thing to have the kids walk in and call out “Lina!” and express that I have become a part of their reality too.
Day 18 of the World Race also means facing how the Lord is convicting my heart. I am starting to come into what it means for the Lord to speak to me. Sometimes it is through thought and prayer, sometimes through visions, and sometimes (most often) it is through one of his faithful followers. It is nearly impossible to avoid hearing from the Lord when I am not only living life as a Christian missionary, but doing so in a community of spirit driven, bold and obedient community. In these first few weeks of my new reality, I have heard from the Lord in wild new ways. He tells me about his love, not only for me but for my team, our ministry, and the beautiful people of this city. He tells me of his will. He tells me of his will for my freedom. You see, I have recently come to the understanding that every single person needs to walk through healing, because we live in a world where there is a lot of pain and heartache and none of us possess immunity. However, I have also come to the understanding that walking in relationship with Christ also means walking through healing with the ultimate Healer by my side.
And the cool thing about living in this crazy beautiful community, is that they come alongside me too. Remember what I said about the Lord convicting my heart? Well, as I practice walking in obedience, I chose to open up to my team about the places where I am seeking freedom and how the Lord is expressing his will in those areas. There was obvious fear going into such an abandonment with women I’ve only know for a short time, but vulnerability is a cool thing and vulnerability with followers is even better.
Leah, Kat, Mack, Carly, and Nichol,
Thank you for loving me, not in spite of my story, but because of my story. Thank you for your willingness to walk through the ugly and give love unconditionally. Thank you for the laughs, the hugs, and for making this new reality my favorite yet.
With love,
Lina
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
1 John 3:18
