My favorite times on the race are the very first moments of each country. You have been traveling for one, two, maybe three or four days and you have finally found your home for the next couple of weeks. It’s the first moments where life slows down enough for you to take it all in. The new county, new home, new ministry, new bed, new people you will now share life with. In one moment your heart fills with love and awe. Jesus is here. Wow.
I have had moments like this now eleven times. Each time my heart is filled with the same wonder and love of God’s connection all around the world.
In India, it was the moment we walked up the steps into the church where we would sleep and saw the large cross on the back wall. Ten orphan boys grabbed our bags for us and ran up the stairs alongside us grinning widely and hugging us. Jesus is here in this church building and in the hearts of these orphans.
In Nepal, it was the first steps I took on the prayer tower. Sitting down at the dining room table with Pastor Narayan and hearing his story as the wind blew the plants and the sun touched the hill in the background. Jesus is here stretching from this tower, out across the rolling hills, covering the country of Nepal in prayer.
In Thailand, it was the first time we gathered with the whole village to worship in the bamboo hut. Our eyes widened and even teared up as we watched about twenty children ranging in age passionately worshipping the Lord. Jesus is here in the song of these refugees.
In Cambodia, it was the first time I walked the streets of Siem Reap. The first day in the city, I went to a smoothie shop and met another American missionary who introduced me to a young boy named Wiesol who worked at the smoothie stand. I never saw that man again, but Wiesol and I became friends. Jesus is here in the streets of this city, wanting to reach these people.
In Vietnam, it was the first smile I received from our host at the train station. He welcomed us and helped us into two different taxi’s. Jesus is here in the sweetness of Daniel’s eyes. His smile radiates Jesus’s still, patient and unwavering love.
In Ethiopia, it was peering out of the window of the van and seeing about twenty orphans smile and welcome us onto the compound. Jesus in here in the joy of each of these orphans.
In Rwanda, it was the first church service underneath that white tent. Men, women and children crowded the pulpit, dancing, shouting and praising the Lord with their entire bodies and hearts. It was a sweaty, dusty, tear-filled church service that sent my heart to a new love of worship. Jesus is here in the worshipful celebration of this village.
In Bolivia, it was sitting on the bench just outside our mud house playing guitar next to our host mom who spent most of her days alone. Jesus is here in the stillness and simplicity of this village.
In Peru, it was sitting around the white lunch table in the dining room and being introduced to the members of the church as they came in to grab lunch. Jesus is here in the community of this church body as they serve the city together.
In Ecuador, it was sitting around the Leek’s living room and sharing short testimonies of God’s redemption in our lives. Jesus is here in this house. He is in the passion of the Leek’s to form relationships and send people out to share the gospel.
Here I am for the last time on the world race in Medellin, Colombia, feeling the same awestruck feeling after lugging my backpack up three flights of stairs to my new bed. I walked into the room and found a note that said “Welcome Kimberley” (spelled right and everything!!!) on my pillow. We sat down with our YWAM base leader and she welcomed us. We listened to what the next couple of days would look like and heard a little bit about YWAM. My heart filled with wonder again. I looked into her eyes as she spoke and took in my surroundings.
A couple of young boys came up the stairs curious about our arrival. A couple of staff members were preparing lunch behind us. She introduced us to her mom, her five month old and a couple of staff members who were around us.
Jesus is here. He is in the joy of our base leader and the community of this YWAM base.
I love the world race. I love meeting new people all around the world with the common goal of reaching more people with the gospel. This is our last month. I still cannot take in the fact that I have been to eleven different countries, had eleven different homes and served the Lord with eleven different ministries. All eleven have been different, but all eleven have shared one common thing. Jesus’s presence. His presence in the hearts of the people. His presence in the atmosphere. His presence in relationships. His presence in the ministry.
His presence connects us. His presence allows friendships to form within seconds. His presence allows an army to form all around the world.
This has been the best year of my life and made my heart come alive in so many ways. I am grieving the end of this journey, but excited to come home and see Jesus’s presence in the United States in new ways.
He really does have the whole world in His hand’s, I can now attest to that. He is so big and his love is so recognizable.
Team Marvel is excited for this last month in Colombia!
As I prepare my heart to leave the world race, my prayer still remains — In my life, BE LIFTED HIGH.
