Looking back over the last 11 months, I am in awe. God is so good, so faithful. One of my teammates challenged me to reflect on the year by praying about one word to sum up each month. Thank you so much for your support, love, prayers, comments, letters, texts, and facetimes all year.
India- Resilience
India was being thrown into the deep end- so incredibly different from my home right away. This month, I learned that I do not need to try to protect my dreams from God. He gave them to me and he will fulfill them in his timing and his way. And, he taught me about resilience of Christians around the world. Even in the face of persecution, isolation, abandonment, and danger of death, the gospel is being spread in India. And, God gave me the gift of praying in tounges this month. I will never forget the kids in my guitar class or tutoring program.
Nepal- Set apart
Nepal is home to the fastest growing church on earth. And while there are so many other religions and spiritual darkness in Nepal, God is working. Even in the face of an anti-evangelism law, God is working. Even through it is a place that has high prostitution and trafficking rates, God is working. And because it is so dark in Nepal, Christ’s light shines so brightly. I learned this month, that a leader’s top priority is to spur those they are leading closer to Christ. One of my favorite weekends of the whole race was the women’s Beauty for Ashes Retreat in Kathmandu.
Thailand- Miracles
Thailand was a month of boldness and miracles. I have never felt so much like I was living in the book of Acts. Our ministry host, Pastor John, would take us in a van all around Theon, Thailand and we would pray for healing, preach, and teach. I will never forget this month. It was the first time I saw a healing, right in front of my eyes. And, I had been asking God to give me dreams, but he didn’t -He gave them to my ministry host instead. He confirmed the anointing on my life and my place in the church
Cambodia- Rest
Cambodia was a great time of rest for my team and for the other team with us and Siem Reap. We were assigned to unsung heroes in Cambodia. We spent the month looking for new ministries to work with. We got to stay at an Adventures in Missions guest house with other American Missionaries. It was so much fun to be with Americans for the month and see the daily sacrifice that come with being a long term missionary.
Vietnam- Intimacy
Vietnam was a really good month for me. I got to visit teams of some really close friends and have the opportunity to do ministry and do life with them. I was also greatly impacted by one of our hosts, Ben. I learned this month that life with Jesus is constantly interactive and my desire to hear him is not even as great as his desire to speak to me. We also fasted as a team this month, and one of those days, the Lord revealed an anointing in worship on my life-Specifically, bringing an intimacy and authenticity to worship. I also got to work in a coffee shop that also hosts free English classes as a way to evangelize and disciple. I can’t wait to try this back in the US in international communities!
Ethiopia- Delight
In February, we worked on a sustainable farm and orphanage in Harbu Chulue, Ethiopia. I spent most of my days playing with a little girl named Senna. God used her to teach me how much he delights in us as his children.
Rwanda- Unity
In Rwanda, God taught me the power of people when they are unified. This country experienced horrible genocide in the 1990’s, but everyone is working together to rebuild. And, when the church comes together, we are capable of great things and powerful fruit. Our parents came to Rwanda to do ministry with us for one week, and it confirmed how much the global church can do as a united body of believers. Also, my mentor and I were talking in Rwanda about anointing, and she told me that my worship anointing comes in the freedom that I bring to worship. “You sit at the bottom of the deep end in the ‘worship pool’. Then, other people standing on the side can feel free to jump on in.”
Bolivia- Renewal
In Bolivia, my team and I were out in a little Village called Apollo. We had no wifi and had tons of time to cook and spend time together. We had slow mornings, so we spent a few hours drinking coffee and reading God’s word. God renewed my spirit that month, my relationships with others, and my passion for the race and to see His kingdom come on Earth.
Peru- Serve
Peru was a month full of service. We were partnered with a mega church in Lima called Camino de Vida. They have about 10,00 people per week visit six campuses across Lima. For the first few weeks we were there, we spent time sorting donations, painting, passing out donations, and handing out free wheelchairs. We also worked at an orphanage for special needs. Then, the last week, we flew into the jungle to serve with the church for a week. This month, I saw a church with members who bought into serving the body. They were not inconvenienced to take time off work to go serve fellow Peruvians. They showed me how powerful service can be.
Ecuador- New Wine
Ecuador was a month of stretching and pressing for me. I held onto the song “New Wine” by Hillsong; the Lord also gave me this phrase for the month. Ministry was stretching, team was stretching, and I flew home for a week to attend my grandfather’s funeral. But, through the song, the Lord reminded me that the stretching and the pressing are good. They help draw new wine out of us. When we surrender the desires of our hearts and law down the old flames we’ve been carrying, God lights his new fires in our hearts.
Coloumbia- Begin Again
This month, life has looked more normal, more western, and more American. I have been living in a hostel and serving in our small Squad Leader team. We came, looked up some ministries, and asked to join in. This is ministering where you live. Whether you live in NC, another state, or abroad, you can serve. We’re called to serve and you may be surprised to see what God is doing in your city. How awesome that our God is so big that we can partner with his kingdom mission without even buying a plane ticket! We can, and should, live the “mission trip” lifestyle at home. The World Race is not my finish line; it’s my starting line (see Jack’s blog for more on this perspective). Here I come, America.
