So, a few months have passed since I’ve come home from this epic journey.
I looovvvve that I get to look back and read through my old journals and see all the ways God moved, how He used me, the revelations He gave, and how He allowed me to partner with Him in changing people’s lives.
So, how was it?
It was tremendous.
It was beautifully challenging as a teammate referred to it.
It was a juxtaposition of discomfort, yet peace and joy.
It was heart wrenching.
It was eye-opening.
It was LIFE CHANGING.
And so many difficult things happened to where you had to laugh to keep from crying: Having ants all in our clothes, scorpions in our living quarters, trying to sleep with mosquitoes buzzing around my head UNDER the mosquito net, traversing mountains (some were hills, but it felt like mountains, lol.)
Yet, no matter how difficult and uncomfortable it got, I knew that I could move forward, because I knew I was in the exactly where God wanted me to be.
As I reminisce, here are some of the random moments that immediately pop in my head:
That time…
I was in Siem Reap, Cambodia and chopped all of my hair off.
That time..
we enjoyed chicken and rice on top of a waterfall in Thailand (after I picked leeches off of me; casual *insert side eye emoji)
That time..
we put on a Christmas skit for our orphans in Ethiopia ( I was a wise [wo]man and brought Baby Jesus some cocoa butter lotion, the good stuff! Lol)That time..
we laid hands on a woman in Thailand, whose body was so riddled with cancer, the doctors gave up on her.
Another lady we prayed for, who accepted Christ and is a part of the fam!
That time..
I got to paint a mural of wild flowers on the walls for Katie, a whimsical, young girl with four brothers.
That time..
I helped lay rebar for the foundation of a new church being built in Ecuador.
That time..
we ATLed (Ask The Lord) our way into a Muslim woman’s mansion in India. It had an elevator and aristocratic furniture that we wouldn’t dare sit on after traveling and not bathing for days. She let us pray for her and her family, and tears streamed down her face.
This is a picture of Ruthie in India at the after school program where we taught.
That time..
in Vietnam, when I was the first Black Santa they’d ever seen and passed out candy to the kids, but then went against the rules and told them about Jesus… in a communist country.
That time..
I sang “Great Are You Lord” into the microphone on a street corner in Bolivia.
Team Ahava’s family portrait with our host, Gio in Bolivia
That time..
I preached in a market in Rwanda and two women accepted Christ into their hearts.
That time..
in Nepal where we drew prophetic cards and had to go out and find what we drew, and this man in the green Hawaiian shirt that I drew walked right up and started talking to me. Whoa.
That time..
we allowed this guy in Colombia to teach us how to windsurf (of all things) in order to share Jesus with him, lol. (There wasn’t enough wind, so praise!)
Man, this journey has been epic. Life with Christ at the center is the best life one could live. The memories, the answered prayers, the breakthroughs!!
If you haven’t fully experience Jesus enough to shout it from the rooftops, then you haven’t truly experienced the fullness of what He has for you! There is an inheritance here on earth that is waiting for you.
If you don’t see Him on a daily basis, get in that Word and seek Him!! And I’m preaching to myself too! America is distracting!
To the people I have met along this journey, who I’ve laughed and cried and prayed with, you are truly gifts and our souls are forever intertwined.
“Uncle P”, Ravi, Pastor Dan, Shilpa, PJ, PA, Bom, Hua, Matti, Bye, Thai Nanna, Thai Auntie, Romany, Anica, Bronwyn, Teresa, Mengue, Megersa, Worke, Buse, Messi, Banchee, Sintu, Mama Mary, Pastor Fred, Hopey, Celestin, Eva, Giooo, Gus, Noemi, Abuelita, Maritza, Carlita, Holly, Tim, Silvi, Patricio, Lucy, Candy, and to all the people whose names I forgot, if I don’t see you again here on earth, I will see you in heaven. Love y’all!!
To Wonder Church,
My squadmates, coaches, mentors, and Alumni SQLs, my family away from home, thank you. You will forever ever ever be in my heart. You all are a part of me. This has been a life changing year, and it wouldn’t have been the same without you. You all are so brave, kind, intelligent, beautiful, deep, quality human beings on fire for Christ, and it was an honor to live with you, learn from you, grow with you, love on you, etc. Thank you for calling me higher, for encouraging me, for helping me to see me the way God sees me. I’ll love you forever!!
And to all of my supporters who prayed for me, donated to me, rooted for me, thank you so much. I couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for partnering with God and being a part of this journey.
So, what’s next?? Stay tunneedd!! Cuz the way my Lord is set up, “He does exceedingly, abundantly ABOVE all you can ever ask or think according to the power that works within us.” So in other words, whatever it is, IT’S LITTT!!!
