Ben is a man of words and action.
He has a deep desire to see God move and to allow the Lord to use Him as the catalyst through which His fire comes.
When he joined us he wasn’t done with HighSchool yet, but he finished and graduated on our route.
He is both a child and a man beyond his years.
He has a burning passion that drives him out of the car when we stop for gas; to talk with strangers, hear their story, share the gospel, and pray for them.
He is also willing to dance for donuts. Free donuts.
When Ben laughs you can never mistake it for mere pleasantry. And once you’ve heard it you will miss it when it’s not around.
Ben feels deeply – and his passion for the Lord can be seen in the way he worships and walks.
Over a month ago now, Ben went home to wrestle with the Lord for the promises God’s made to him. He was doing park outreach and his leg was shattered in a freak accident while we were in Oregon – we took shifts with him in the hospital until his Mom came and took him back to NorthCarolina.
Please be praying for a full and miraculously quick recovery –
And that this time would be a time of intense intimacy between Ben and the Lord!
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After we left Oregon, we headed north into Washington and we were there for a few weeks. This last month has definitely been a time of sowing in!
Up to Oregon, our longest stint in one spot had been Ridgecrest, CA for 8 days.
So it was nice to settle in a bit and get to know people more.
Washington was AMAZING! We were outside the city in a place called Snohomish, and it quickly became home. (As I said in my last blog, something happened which super encouraged me and when I can, I will share it!)
However something else really kewl happened while we were there, and I want to invite you to go over to my Teammate Jessica’s blog and read it!
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After we left Zack’s family (which was hard to do) we headed east and ended up in Samamish. We had planned to only stay two nights, but the Lord delayed us – as our windshield shattered and we had to wait a few extra days to get it replaced.
There we met Alleigh’s godparents (basically her Aunt and Uncle) who are believers with an amazing intimacy with the Lord.
They are intentionally sowing into the young married couples in their church and we got to see the evidence as they had their small group the second night we were there.
It was so special to hear them digging into the Word of God together and encouraging each other and their close connection with each other was apparent in their interactions and their conversations.
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Guys.
We have been SO BLESSED!
Despite my struggle to fully embrace joy – my struggle to figure out what it even is – and how to wield it better, how to love others in community fully and encourage them to walk in their calling while simultaneously embracing and holding fast to my own, – – God has continually provided for us in ways that I cannot fully explain to you.
It’s just been abundance.
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After we left there, we headed into Yellowstone.
Our goal was to go and spend a full day sabbathing and then do outreach in the campgrounds as well as see and glorify God for the beauty in His creation.
We had one night reserved and then we had to switch campsites –
So Lauren, Alleigh, and I got up before the sun was up and sped out on the deserted roads to stand in line and get a campsite.
As we drove the sun began to rise and the steam swirling off the lake we passed pulled us into a magical world.
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After standing in the cold for over an hour with other campsite seekers the Lord answered our prayers and even as the Ranger tried to figure out two campsites – someone left the campground giving us two of the best campsites right next to each other – in the middle of the campground!
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It was fun to camp altogether – there was a lot of group cooking, and at one point all of us were huddled together below the only awning we had as it poured rain for hours!
It was a tight squeeze for the 14 of us!
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We invited everyone in the campgrounds (over 100 campsites) to our bonfire s’more worship night and 2 couples ended up coming.
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Let me testify:
God knows how to provide!
Those two couples stayed well into the night, talking with us and sitting with us as we worshipped. We got to pray for ailments in their bodies – and when they finally slipped away into the night they left behind an invitation to stay with them in their cabin in the Tetons!
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Without having had another place to go that invitation alone encouraged us all.
On our way to the Tetons – leaving Yosemite – we stopped at Jenny Lake, one of the most beautiful places I have seen in my life! I felt like I was in Switzerland!
Our team took pictures and then continued on to meet our new friends.
When we arrived they had dinner waiting for us and we spent the evening eating, talking, and playing games.
We also celebrated one of the husbands birthdays! (They have a tradition of everyone singing a different version of HappyBirthday all at once – which was so fun!)
Zack played some songs he wrote, people shared testimonies, and then we all sat as Zack read some chapters from a book.
It felt like we were family.
Then slowly, the lights went out and we all found a nook and went to sleep.
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Early the next day we left for Colorado.
Colorado has been exceptional!
We are staying with a couple who used to be missionaries in Uganda.
At first I wasn’t sure if I could share my experience in Uganda – because up to this point I hadn’t felt like anyone agreed with my experiences there. But talking with David and Beth validated one of the hardest month on the race for me.
For the first time I felt heard and seen and I also received encouragement about Gods work and love there.
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The girls on my team and I have been really intentional to meet every morning and talk about the day to cast vision and pray and worship.
We have been going out into the surrounding towns and doing prayer walks and ATL – which has lead to very specific and confirming conversations.
In Loveland we were able to see the problems of homelessness and the lack of mercy and compassion by people. And we got to speak life over hopelessness and action over judgement.
We didn’t get to talk to a lot of people, but each conversation held deep meaning and purpose.
Later we went to the University of Colorado in Boulder and got to pray over the aimlessness, deep melancholy, and a feeling of disconnect/unsupportedness we sensed there. We broke into pairs and prayed over the buildings on the campus and the soon to be filled dorm buildings. I sensed a stronghold over the minds of the students being able to see the glory of God in creation and in science. So Jessica and I (and found out Brittany and Hannah also) prayed over those issues specifically as well.
I met a girl, Sam in the Library studying film on her way to teach in Korea and got to have a kewl conversation with her and exchange information! Im super jazzed about her journey and life there.
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Later we went to another University in Denver and got to meet students from HighSchool there on a special program for their advancement in the business world. I was super encouraged to spend time in prayer with these young men who were obviously leaders on their campus – and even had guys trickle over and join us during our prayers!
After that we met Kaitlin – and she was super kind and I was encouraged just to see God connecting us and allowing us to hear her story and know that she was right where she was supposed to be.
She had just moved into the area and already God was giving her community and redefining Himself to her as a God not of a building – but of deep relationship.
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During this past two months (it has flown by!) we have also been able to attend several churches, community groups, and meet people whose children have done WorldRace abroad!
It’s been super encouraging!
Currently my team is here in Fort Collins going out, praying, and seeing what encounters God will give them!
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Speaking of encounter, I have spent several days this past week and a half working solely on ENCOUNTER. God has been so good!
- Speakers are all confirmed!
- Housing supplied!
- Worship leaders committed!
- Venue obtained!
- Catering and food provided for!
- Attendance increasing!
- Volunteers established
- And money donated to make this event happen!
THANK YOU to everyone who has partnered with each one of us on this WorldRaceAmerica trip!
YOU ARE making a difference! We walk, pray, speak, and live from a place encouraged and sent by you! And I want you to know that this is because, and through, and with you!
Please keep praying! Your prayers ARE making a difference!
You are an essential part of WorldRace America!
You are the foundation – and you open and close things spiritually with your prayers! We are so grateful to have you alongside us – and encouraged by the way that you keep in touch with and share yourself with us (both in prayers and the finances you have sown in).
Let us press on!
He is faithful, and one day, when we see all the ways He has used us, our rejoicing will shake heaven!
