To those of you that think I am being such a slacker for not posting a blog since right after training camp, I am sincerely sorry. The past month went by so fast and before I knew it, I was on a bus to Haiti. Bye bye Dominican Republic. I got the opportunity to make friends I hope to connect with once back in the states, do things I have never done before, and also break out of my comfort zone by serving in ways I did not think I would serve in the first month of the world race.
Rewind to the 7 hour bus ride to our very first ministry site, Hope Mountain. I literally felt like I was in a dream. I had tunnel vision, I barely had a conversation with everyone, and I could not come to the realization that I was finally starting this 9 month long trip I had been awaiting. I was expecting to instantly be there physically and mentally, but the mental part was still back in Gainesville, Georgia.
Ministry at Hope was different than we were expecting. We all thought “Oh, the World Race. We get to go door to door, pray over people, and lead them to the Lord all over the world!”, so to be honest when they handed us shovels and told us to cut the grass in a giant field we were not too stoked about it. My squad leader Zack gave 2 teammates and myself a good word when one day we felt like all we were doing was maintenance around this gated in property in the mountains of the Dominican Republic. He told us that whatever we are doing, think of it as you are doing it for the Lord and not the host. Whether it be cutting the grass, digging a ditch or 3, or mopping up the mud in your dorm when you feel like it’s doing nothing whatsoever, do it as if you are cutting the Lord’s grass, digging the Lord’s ditch, or mopping the Lords room.
Let me be the first to tell you this is definitely not what we wanted to hear at the time, but it is exactly what we needed to hear. It changed my perspective on why I was there. The past month was to get me to do the only things I hate doing at home that way I was fully prepared for the rest of the race. Also, things started to clear up for me. I started to get out of that dream phase I was in and started to be there physically. I got to see how beautiful of a thing the World Race is. I got to see how blessed I was for all of my supporters and everyone behind my back. I got to see that home isn’t just my address back in the U.S. That it changes, and that’s not always a bad thing. I got to start opening up my true identity in Christ, and started to see a family around me to have my back through struggles and hardships. And I could not be more blessed for that.
UPDATE: We pulled into Mission of Hope in Haiti 4 days ago. The three co-ed teams are here, the three all girls teams are probably 2 hours south of us, and everyone is safe. The people at Mission of Hope were all so welcoming and excited to greet us as we pulled up. Amazing staff, amazing culture, and amazing ministry. So far, to myself at least, this is looking to be a very beautiful month and though I won’t have wifi that often I will try to keep you updated as often as possible. God is on the move! Thank you so much for the prayers and support.
